We tried 15 different bourbons to see which one makes the best Old Fashioned Cocktail
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- Опубликовано: 19 июн 2024
- Hey guys, we did the ultimate test to see which base bourbon makes the best Old Fashioned! Some notes:
- We did this test in two weeks time; please do not try this at home! We paced ourselves and did not drink 15 cocktails at once. Always drink in moderation.
- We didn't use any single barrels (except for Blanton's, since every bottle is single barrel) because we wanted to get the same or similar type of bottle that you would get at your local retailer or grocery store.
- We completely randomized the cocktails so the process was completely blind - we didn't want any preconceived notions to affect our decisions!
For an in-depth look at how we drank and ranked, visit our blog post: homebar.io/whiskey/which-bour...
The recipe for the Old Fashioned was:
• 2 oz bourbon
• 1 barspoon simple syrup
• 3 dashes angostura bitters
• 3 dashes orange bitters
• garnish of lemon and orange peel
For more stories, news and reviews, please visit us at homebar.io! We'd love to see you become part of our community of fellow distilled spirits enthusiasts. Cheers guys!
Useful video, thank you. Great descriptions.
Thank you for watching! Cheers! 🥃
Very cool video. I just subbed. Loved the outcome. surprising and not surprising. Curious what rating system you used. Thanks for doing all this "Hard work". and breaking this down for us. I have yet to make a larceny old fashioned. but may have to now. thanks for sharing and cheers. 🥃
Thanks so much! You’re right, we failed to mention exactly how we did it. It was kind of an intricate process…we initially decided to do a bracket-style, but that’s head-to-head and we knew the anonymity factor would be tough just doing two at a time (even with randomizing). So we decided that the best was to taste and rank 1 through 5 for the 3 groups. Then, we took each group (the 1’s, 2’s and so on) and ranked the best from those groups. So 1’s we’re re-tasted and ranked within the 1 group, 2’s were was well, and so on. We did this until we had them all ranked from the best of the best (ranking the 1 group) down to the worst of the worst (ranking the 5 group).
I’m so sorry if that doesn’t make sense but that’s how we did it! I feel like we should make a diagram 😂😂 anyways, cheers and thank you so much for the sub!! 🥃🥃
@@homebario that makes sense and a lot of fun drinking. Love it. Keep it up. Cheers. 🥃
I have been preaching to any who would listen for close to 3 years now that E.W. Black Label makes a fantastic Old Fashioned. I was bitting my nails as the list kept getting smaller. So pleased that you all liked it! I can't wait to get to the store and pick up a bottle of Larceny now!
Cheers!
EW Black Label was a huge surprise to us! I remember when we evaluated and ranked, and then looked at our stickers under the glasses for the final reveal we were like “really?? Evan Williams!? Well, a blind test doesn’t lie!” 😂 I think one thing we discovered in this test is that some of these flagship or lower shelf expressions are really created to mix nicely in a cocktail. Which would make sense! Now we understand why they’re considered workhorse bottles at so many bars.
Please let us know how Larceny stacks up against EW in your opinion! We’d love to hear back from ya. Thank you for the discussion and cheers!! 🥃🥃
After a lot of my own "tastings" over the years I'm in-line with your findings as well. My go to has always been Makers so I was happy to see it place well. I'll definitely give Larceny a try based on your findings as that's new to me. Thanks!
Thank you for watching! And curious to hear your thoughts on Larceny when you give it a try (both wheated bourbons, so I’m curious to see if Maker’s stays at the #1 slot on your list). Looking forward to chatting further - cheers! 🥃
Very well done video. I appreciate you using bourbons that are readily available and affordable for most. Evan williams and W.T. 101 are some of the best bourbons for those on a budget. Not surprised they did well. Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much! We didn’t mention it but we took the top 10 best selling whiskeys of 2022 on Drizly for 10 of the bottles, and then added an extra 5 that we thought made sense! Of course Blanton’s was one of the top 10 Drizly ones; we would’ve probably put in another more affordable, easier to find bottle but what can ya do 🤷♂️ cheers!! 🥃🥃
@@homebario Cheers!🥃
Huh! My absolute go to for my old fashion is Angels Envy. My original was Woodford Reserve. I am surprised they are so low on your list. Different strokes for different folks 😂. I will have to try some of your top picks. Thank you for doing this video.
Oh for sure! Taste is subjective and some people might like the notes we found less desirable. Also, the results surprised us too! Always used Knob Creek as a ‘go to’ and it did not do well in this test.
We were glad to do the video - the gratitude is all ours for watching it and sharing your thoughts with us. Thanks a ton and cheers! 🥃
Great test! I do have to ask what type of old fashion glass are you using? I’m looking to add some to my bar & really like the simplicity of these.
Thank you! So I just checked on this…we got those glasses off Amazon when they had them as an Amazon Basic product, but it looks discontinued 🤔 however you may be able to find them from other sellers. These looked pretty close:
a.co/d/4UVTjAk
Cheers and thank you for watching! 🥃
Thank you for the straight and honest conclusion. With the marketing fluff and propaganda that drives our perceptions of "quality" bourbons, nice to see a reveal that avoids the "the more expensive the better" take away
Thank you for watching it! And for the kind words. We only report what our senses tell us 🤷♂️ if it’s cheap but tastes good, we’re still gonna give it its due. Also kind of a nice thing about blind taste tests, too…it doesn’t allow your biases to affect what your nose and taste buds are telling ya. Cheers!! 🥃
Wow. You've convinced me to start trying blind taste-tests. I would NEVER have guessed Larceny would be the best. I look forward to conducting my own blind test.
Thank You.
Same! We figured our go-to’s (Buffalo Trace, Knob Creek) would be #1 and #2. Not at all the case! Blind tests reveal so much - without biases. If you do an old fashioned blind test, let us know your results! We’d be curious to hear. Cheers man! 🥃
Let me know when you do it and I’ll help you drink them
New subscriber. Nice choice of bourbons for the trial. Hard to believe, but I have never had an Old Fashioned Cocktail. I have always drank my bourbon in a rocks glass with either round or square ice. Larceny is a little surprising, but love the wheater and really like the Larceny BP A123. 🥃
Hey Dave! We haven't had A123 specifically but Larceny BP has been a solid option in our opinion 💯 we've only had a few batches of it, but it's reliably good! We did a review video of C922 just a couple months ago and thought it was great. Thank you for your comment and for subscribing - cheers! 🥃
Nice vid. My fav's are Makers, Elijah Craig, Old Forrester, and Bulleit. Will definitely have to try Larceny!
All great options! Curious to hear your thoughts on Larceny when you give it a whirl. Thanks so much for watching - cheers! 🥃
Amazing that Evan Williams black label came out in second place. That's my go-to affordable option, but I would have assumed it's in the bottom five. It might have made more sense to use a more similar proof for each one (100 probably being optimal for old fashions with a few more stirs to dilute), but either way 15 is a lot to compare. I did a non-blind comparison of the EW black and Wild Turkey Rare Breed, which is 116 proof. The Rare Breed was a clear winner for me, but costs twice as much, even factoring in the higher ABV. Blanton's is the best neat sipping bourbon I've ever had.
Yeah, we chose based upon the best selling bourbons and options that are easy to find. We also added in a couple other interesting bottles to round it out at 15 (Blanton’s for example) because we thought people would like to know about those ones. We were surprised about EW Black Label too! Honestly some of our all time favorites were near or at the bottom of the pack (like Knob Creek). Blanton’s is a good sipper for sure! Cheers 🥃
Great video and nice production
We appreciate the feedback and thank you for watching! Cheers! 🥃
My favorite is Old Grand Dad BiB. Elijah Craig is also really good. Some of the more expensive stuff doesn't seem worth mixing as I feel like the stuff in that $20-30 range does the same job.
Good to know! Haven’t tried OGD BiB as an option but will based on your recommendation. You’re right about EC - makes a great Old Fashioned! We also feel like this test made us confident the $20 - $30 range bottles do just fine making awesome cocktails. Cheers! 🥃
I agree 100% on your price point. My go to choice is Evan Williams BiB 100 proof.@@homebario
I agree completely, if I spend $65 on a bottle of Blantons nothing is going with it except maybe a single block of ice 🧊
I am glad I found your channel. Your presentation is pretty darn excellent. I was 100% in line with your picks except Buffalo Trace is by far my favorite Bourbon in an Old Fashioned. However, If you ever get a chance, try Basil Hayden Dark Rye in an old fashioned. I am not a Basil Hayden fan, but one of the bartenders at the Centra Bar at the Luxor in Las Vegas said I had to try it. It was actually really great! Take Care and good luck with your channel
Thank you so much for watching! Before this test, Buffalo Trace and Knob Creek were always our go-to’s for an Old Fashioned, so we share your sentiment on BT! We will definitely try the suggestion for Dark Rye. We are working on an Old Fashioned with Rye video currently, so if you’re subscribed then you’ll see that coming soon 😁 Cheers and thank you for the discussion and kind words! 🥃
@homebario - We did a live with different old fashioneds. Here is a couple others to try with an old fashioned Knob Creek Smoked Maple, and one that might be hard to find....Blue Sky Distillery Painted Pig Smoked Bacon Maple Whiskey. I'm not much into flavored Whiskeys, but these made good old fashioneds! Take Care, and I'll quit blowing up your comment page!!
No worries at all - love the recommendations and love talking whiskey and cocktails! We appreciate ya!
Interesting list! Larceny is a good bourbon at a great price point.
Thanks for watching! We’ve always liked Larceny as a neat pour, but hadn’t tried it in an OF til we ran this experiment. We were pleasantly surprised!
I have found that if I don’t like my whiskey straight up, putting it in an old fashioned or any other cocktail is not going to make it taste any better. Always use the bourbon that you would reach for any day of the week, you won’t be disappointed that way. Cheers.
Thanks for the comment! That’s a good rule of thumb, I think. That said, I also think that this showed us the bourbons we find unremarkable can enhance or complement other flavors in an OF in unexpected ways. For example, we’re not usually drinking Evan Williams Black Label neat; it’s more likely we’d be drinking Blanton’s, BT or Eagle Rare that way. But the blind shook out to have EW Black label #2 overall to beat out all those others (for our tastes). But I agree with your statement - if you DISLIKE a whiskey, chances are good you’re not gonna like it in an OF 🙂 thanks again and cheers to you as well! 🥃
Really interesting video. For my first bourbon experience, I’ve ordered Makers Mark and Buffalo Trace. I want to try them in old fashioned and sours
Thanks for watching! Both of those bottles are great in a whiskey sour (if that's the sour you're referring to). Personally, we like to use Maker's in our whiskey sours, because we prefer the sweet and sour balance there, and we find Maker's to be just a touch sweeter than Buffalo Trace. But both are excellent options. BT will have a rye mash bill, which we find provides a touch more spice. Either way, I'm sure you will enjoy - cheers! 🥃
@@homebario Yes indeed , for sours 👍 have now sampled both in sours and they are both absolutely great! 👍👍 No complaints whatsoever about either one. If I was forced to make a choice, I would say Makers, but but they are soooo close I’m 100% happy with either one.
Awesome, glad to hear it!
Regarding old Forrester, the Brown hotel, which is known for their drinks in Louisville Kentucky uses old Forrester 86 proof. I find that a very nice smooth complement to old fashions other ingredients.
86 proof is good stuff! We have not been to the Brown Hotel but definitely would like to visit someday. Cheers! 🥃
Interesting video…thanks for drinking all those cocktails to arrive at those result. I’ve made my Old Fashions with Evan Williams for years because no matter what I did, nothing compared that was close to as affordable. I my area, EW is about $13…less per pour if you buy a handle Larceny is about $35 and harder to find. I’ll stick with EW for every day and maybe pick up some Larceny for special occasions.
We were surprised that EW Black Label was ranked at #2 in our test! So it seems that you've been pouring an excellent option for a long time. But yes, Larceny is a good option to switch things up. Let us know how you like it! It's a wheated bourbon so it may lack a bit of the rye "bite" some are used to, but in the cocktail it seemed super well balanced between sweet and spicy.
Great video
Thanks for watching, Mike! Cheers 🥃
I tried Angel’s Envy in an OF before and was less than thrilled. It’s so much better neat.
My go to for an OF is rye, with Bulleit being my #1. But, for a non-rye, Maker’s and Elijah Craig are my choices.
Cheers!
Yeah we do enjoy AE neat - especially the rye finished in Caribbean rum casks. Have you tried that one? It’s incredible 🔥
We will probably do a rye version of this test since we got such a good response to this video. We would indeed have the Bulleit rye in that test!
Thank you so much for your comment and the discussion. Cheers! 🥃
@@homebario haven’t had the Caribbean cask version yet. The Elijah Rye is also real good.
My wife got me a bottle of Whistle Pig 10 year rye for my birthday. It made a good OF, but sooooooo much better neat.
We’ve had the EC rye, and definitely agree - it’s a good one.
I wish we were more into Whistlepig! I believe we have tried their 6 year before at a tasting but no bottles in our home bar. That said, we’d like to change that! They do have a few bottles that are less than $100 so they’re totally accessible. Definitely appreciate that recommendation 💯
Old Forester 100 rye also makes a great OF.
Four Roses small batch for me in old fashioneds. The proof and price are perfect. It makes a nice sub in a Manhattan too if you don't have a rye available.
While Four Roses Small Batch wasn't part of this test, we can absolutely see it being a great option! We have it in our home bar. Perhaps we will try it in an Old Fashioned soon. Cheers! 🥃
Do you make or buy your bar spoon simple syrup? If make how?
Hey! We make our simple syrups at home. Typically we do 1:1 ratios, so 1 cup of sugar to 1 cup of water. In this video, you’ll notice it’s a bit darker because it’s Demerara syrup. That’s made with Sugar in the Raw (cane sugar) which has some natural molasses in it (hence why it’s darker). We think this helps complement some of the flavors of the whiskey in an Old Fashioned. You can make it the same way - 1:1 ratio water to sugar. We’ll make a video in the future about simple syrups too, since there’s a bit to explain, but hope this was helpful. Cheers! 🥃
Fun video. But, the bourbon that makes the best Old Fashioned is, and always will be, the bourbon YOU LIKE BEST in your Old Fashioned. Bottom line, get out there, try some bourbon, and find what you like. (And, if we're being specific, a true Old Fashioned is made with rye. ;-))
Couldn’t agree more! If nothing else, I’d hope our video demonstrates that you might find a new favorite by going out of your comfort zone (or usual bourbon of choice for cocktails). But we’re trying 15 ryes next! Curious to hear your thoughts after we post it (soon). Cheers! 🥃
I had a really good old fashioned about a month ago - probs best I'd ever had, was made with Bulliet rye.
based on this test, might try one tonight with Maker's Mark.
Oh awesome to hear! We’ll be releasing our ‘Best Rye for an old Fashioned’ video soon and Bulleit Rye is one of the contenders. You may find Maker’s a bit sweeter than Bulleit Rye, owing to both the corn and the Red Winter Wheat. But I’m curious to hear your thoughts if you do try it! Thank you for your watching and cheers 🥃
Always orde mine with makers mark. It’s delicious
I'm surprised that "Kesslers Blended" wasn't in your list!! But then again I'm from WI sooooo. Lol... but that spirt is best used in the WI old fashion. 😜
Nice job on the blind test!!!!
Thank you!! We have not tried that whiskey before but maybe we will give it a shot in a future video where we take the WI Old Fashioned for a test drive. 😁 Cheers! 🥃
@@homebario when one orders a WI Brandy ol'fashion the Brandy will be Korbel. When ordering a Whiskey ol'fashion the whiskey will be Kesslers... WI is one of the top consumers of Korbel and Kesslers... Dont'cha Nooooo 🥃
@@bionicdan1959 check and check ✔! We'll definitely grab those exact ingredients when we do that video 😁
I haven't had Kesslers since it was one of the main Cheap Whisky's me and my buddy's could get in high school in the 90's, Kesslers and Black Velvet were the go to's because of the price for us cheap bastards.
What I have found works really well is Woodford
double barrel......
Absolutely - it’s one of our personal favorites in an OF! We waffled a bit on whether or not to include it in our test, but decided against it, since it’s kinda in a different ‘tier’ in that it’s double barreled, like you mentioned. It seemed unfair to the other competitors who are single barreled 🤷♂️ but we wholeheartedly agree! 🥃 cheers!!
Good take. Woodford double barrel on its own…definitely not one we go to, but does taste nice in an Old Fashioned
Few more questions…I have a tiny flat bar spoon…how many ounces or teaspoons of simple syrup would you say you used in your bar spoon? Also what is the reason for 3 Ang bitters and 3 orange bitters…most recipes I have seen call for 2-3 shakes of bitters only? Does that much bitters dramatically alter the taste? Trying to find / understand how to make a good old fashioned.
Great question, we would be happy to measure it exactly and let you know since not all bar spoons are made equal! Though I would venture to say the spoon we use is rather typical in size. The thought behind three dashes is purely based on our preference from trying different options! We would recommend that you try different amounts of ingredients every time to see if it helps create the balance you’re looking for / to find your optimal recipe.
@@homebario Thanks for the feedback. Have you tried Makers Mark 101 or Cask Strength in an Old Fashioned? Wonder how they compete with the Larceny in that cocktail?
We have tried Maker’s 101 in an old fashioned and we like it! Have not tried Cask Strength as we usually just drink that neat. However would be interesting to try out for an Old Fashioned. Do you have those bottles?
Also just measured our bar spoon - it’s the standard size and equals a teaspoon (about 5 ml).
@@homebario Ok thanks.
Is that an older bottle or did Wild Turkey go back to their old bottles?
It’s an older one, yes! They did change the label a while back.
I saw Knob Creek in your lineup and said "ahh ok, there's your winner, let's see who gets second place"...
We were just as surprised as you! KC is one of our go-to’s in an Old Fashioned, but the blind test is the equalizer! To be fair though, this bottle was FUNKY. We even wrote to Beam to see if maybe that was part of a bad batch or something. With a good bottle of KC, we would expect that it would have at least cracked the top 10, but we gotta be honest with what we drank 🤷♂️ cheers! 🥃
My go to bourbons are OGD 114 and Benchmark Full Proof. My go to rye is any 95% MGP.
We haven’t tried either of those bourbons in an Old Fashioned, but that’s a good tip! We have both of those bottles so we will try them. I think our Rossville Union Rye is a 95% MGP. Would be a good option to try as well! Cheers 🥃🥃
It's funny that the less expensive bourbons were rated so high. Maker's Mark is my go-to. There's a bourbon bar close to me and when I asked for Maker's Mark when I ordered my Old Fashion they look down their nose at me. Larceny...same thing....although they were good with Jim Beam.... which is not exactly top shelf.
I wonder why! Maybe they’re not fans of wheated bourbons? 😆 If anything, I think this test showed us that those highly-available, 80-90(ish) proof bottles shine in an Old Fashioned. And we would guess they do well with other basic bourbon cocktails (but that’s an experiment for another video). Cheers! 🥃
Wow would love to see a repeat blind on old fashions but using all different RYE whiskeys
Currently in the works! Stay tuned…and thank you for watching this video! Cheers! 🥃
Lots of takes in this comment section. I’m a rye drinker myself, so I understand why ppl are calling for it to be Rye. That’s what was available when the recipe was created, not bourbon. However many enthusiasts think bourbon = whiskey and therefore its important to make the drink you or your guest want, not what’s historically correct.
The reason Larceny was the best result is because it’s slightly over proof standing up to the dilution. It is known for its unique blend of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley, which sets it apart from traditional bourbon mash bills that typically contain a higher proportion of corn. The inclusion of wheat in the mash bill contributes to a smoother, softer palate with notes of caramel, vanilla, and baking spices, while the rye content adds a touch of spice and complexity to the flavor profile.
Looks as if they’re using Death & Co. template as well. Personally I like
2 oz. Old Granddad Bourbon (It’s High Rye) or Riittenhouse Rye
2 dash Bogarts Bitters (used more commonly when the drink was created and offers more clove than angostura)
2 dash Reagan’s Orange Bitters #7
.25 oz 2:1 Demerara Gum Syrup (the addition of gum Arabic stabilizes the syrup suspending it throughout the drink when mixed creating a better mouth feel and balance in the cocktail. Using a 2:1 with help more so than 1:1 however won’t be as well rounded as gum syrup.
Thanks for adding to the conversation! I agree that the most important spirit to use in your Old Fashioned is the one you want - or, if the situation is you serving others - what your guests want.
Y'know I'm not sure if we are using Death and Co's template for an Old Fashioned recipe 🤔 We've used this recipe pretty early in our cocktail-making journey which was back in 2016. We have 3 of Death & Co's books (The Cocktail Codex, Death & Co.: Modern Classic Cocktails, and Welcome Home) and I looked to see if that was the source, but our version varies from the OF entries I saw in those books. I think we just tried different versions and tweaked the recipe to our liking. Which is what everyone should consider doing!
Love your recipe and the idea of using Bogart's Bitters, which is something we've added to our list to try.
Thanks again for your comment and cheers! 🥃
Y’all need to sagamore rye double oaked with an old fashioned. Excellent.
We plan on doing a ‘best rye for an old fashioned’ video soon! We’ll definitely keep an eye out for that bottle - cheers! 🥃
It seems that low proffers and wheated bourbans reign Supreme for y'all weller special reserve would likely be a great option for you guys!
Yeah, a lot of 80 or 90 proofers near the front of the pack! We have tried WSR in an Old Fashioned and we think it’s excellent. 💯 we even considered adding it to the test but knowing how it can be hard to locate in a lot of states, decided to leave it out. Great suggestion though, and thank you for your comment! Cheers! 🥃
@@homebario true if you're looking for more available wheated green river is great too cheers
which bourbon is best for mixing with Coke?
Haven’t tested that! 😁 We usually just go with Jim Beam white label - we think it does the job pretty well 👍👍
Angel’s Envy has been by far my favorite bourbon for old-fashioneds. Definitely no Woodford Reserve for me-I tried it last night to see if I could get a good tasting OF with cheap bourbon. Buffalo Trace is good too. Can’t remember if I’ve ever had a Maker’s Mark OF, but it’s usually one of my go-to whiskeys for cocktails.
While AE didn’t do so great in our test, we actually love the brand and what they produce! Have you had their rye finished in Caribbean Rum Casks? Excellent bottle. 🔥 I believe AE’s rye content is 18%, which is on the higher end of medium. And it’s fairly unique because it’s the only finished whiskey we tried in our experiment. From this list, we’d recommend trying Old Forester 100. Its cheap, same amount of rye content, with an oaky profile and a fair amount of sweetness (likely not as much as AE considering the port wine finish). But if you do try it, let us know what you think! Cheers 🥃🥃
@@homebario Hmm, maybe it’s because of how the bartender made it. His variation was stirring the cocktail with an orange slice and cherry already in it, rather than just adding them as garnishes after the fact. It almost looked like a sangria the way he was doing it. He also stirred it for the max time, which may have helped with the bitter aftertaste y’all were talking about. It went down really smooth and flavorful. Anyway, I have not had the Caribbean Rum AE, but I did see it on the shelf one time. I’ll definitely give that a try as well as the Old Forester 100-thanks for the tip.
Always glad to give (and receive) tips! That sounds delicious, actually. It’s very possible that the orange slice mellowed out that bitter note we experienced in our test. In fact, it might’ve even given the bitter note context (orange slice with peel) which made it much more enjoyable. Feel free to return here when you try the Old Fo or the AE and let us know if those were to your liking. We love to have these convos - thanks again!
How could you leave out og114. The greatest easily for an old fashioned. I guess it wasn’t fair to the others
Fair question! It was definitely considered because we do like it neat, but ultimately it didn’t make the list because of its proof point. We figured it might make sense to make a future vid of higher proof old fashioneds so that would definitely make it in there. We considered OGD bonded as well, but in the end we figured having a good amount of Beam products in the test already should be a fair representation of their general profile.
Any other bottle suggestions you’d like to see for a future video? We’re all ears - thank you!
I prefer Knob Creek rye or OF rye for an old fashioned
We’ve got a video coming out soon with 15 ryes, so if you’re a rye Old Fashioned guy, stay tuned!
My favorite old fashioned is made with Wild Turkey 101.
WT101 ranked right in the middle for our test! Definitely a great option 💯 cheers! 🥃
WT 101 is fantastic. Imo, if you want to try a bit of rye spice to give it a little kick, I've been enjoying 2 oz WT 101, 1 oz Bulleit 95 rye, 1 oz barsmith old fashioned mix.
Interesting, All the ones I personally prefer are toward the bottom, While the ones I thought were OK were toward the top, Excluding Blantons as that's the one on the list I've yet to try and doubt I ever do considering I'm not paying 200 bucks to try an old fashioned and that's the cheapest I've seen it where I live, TF is up with that? Margot Robbie better be personally delivering it at that price.
First off, it’s an honor to chat with Maester Pycelle’s Beard so lets get that out of the way first. Second, we totally agree - in fact the last place bottle (Knob Creek) is one of our go-to’s in an OF 🤷♂️ blind tasting removes all the biases so it’s a beautiful thing! Thirdly, we’ve done vids on Blanton’s. Check out our channel for our Rapid Review where we talk about value. We wouldn’t pay $200 for a full bottle of Blanton’s, let alone an OF made with it!
Nice video! Surprised Buffalo Trace was so low considering how great it is in an Old Fashioned
Thank you! We were too, honestly, since it's one of our go-to's in an Old Fashioned. Doing this as a blind taste was something of a revelation. Never expected BT to be outdone by the likes of JB White label and Evan Williams Black 😮
A couple of wheats in top 5. Nice.
Maker’s and Larceny! Both were excellent 💯
Angels Envy >
Lots of AE fans out there! Do you like drinking their products neat / on the rocks? Or just specifically in an Old Fashioned?
oof this video sucked me in and i'm glad!!
Glad to hear it - cheers! 🥃
Also I would recommend maybe turning down the gain or speaking a tad further away from your microphones. You shouldn’t be peaking your audio with every word.
Thank you for the feedback! 💯 We also noticed it afterwards and plan to make adjustments moving forward. We appreciate it! Cheers 🥃
Glad my favorite made the top 5. Basil Hayden.
I feel like this one surprised us a bit in the top 5! But in reality it makes sense; it’s sweet, inoffensive at 80 proof and seemed to really complement the flavors in the Old Fashioned. Turned out to be a solid option, in our opinion. Have you tried it in an Old Fashioned yet?
@@homebario I have! That’s what lead me to try it, I wanted a smoother old fashioned. The sweetness was a bonus!
Excellent! We're curious what Basil Hayden's Dark Rye tastes like in an OF 🤔 maybe we'll give it a shot! Cheers and thank you for the conversation 🥃
@@homebario Lol! Well, when you try it, please do a video! My pleasure. 🙏🏽
For my taste, I would eliminate any bourbon below 100 proof for mixing. I find bottled in bond and low 100 proofs ideal. So throw out all those weak ass bourbons and get Evan Williams BiB, Coopers Craft 100, Early Times BiB, Makers Mark 101, etc. and step up your Old Fashion game.
Good note 👍👍 our criteria for selecting the bottles was to prioritize the most popular bottles on the market, and then add a few that we thought people might be curious about (like the ever-popular Blanton’s). We have all the bottles you just mentioned as well, so we’ll give those a shot in an Old Fashioned. Thanks and cheers! 🥃
My favorite whiskey for Old Fashioned is by far Michter’s American Whiskey, technically not a bourbon, but best by a long shot
Interesting, we have not tried the American Whiskey in an OF! Makes sense though, since it’s really good as a neat pour. We’ll definitely give it a try - thanks for your comment. Cheers! 🥃
Great cross section bourbons. Many more than other reviewer.
Glad you found it helpful - thanks for watching! Cheers 🥃
i think this shows you like a heavy wheat bill lo..with that said agreed with the angel envy hype thought it was humdrum
Hey, it might! Two wheated bourbons in the top 5. But I will say that before this test, our two favorites for an Old Fashioned were Buffalo Trace and Knob Creek. Still love them (I think we might’ve gotten a bad batch of KC for the test, to be honest). We were looking for balance of sweet and spicy as the #1 factor in our decision, and then if there were other intriguing notes in the cocktail that was given consideration. Anyways, thanks for watching and for the discussion as well - cheers! 🥃
Four roses single barrels make the best old fashioned. I totally disagree with the outcome here larceny is a very sweet wheated bourbon, it doesn't have enough spice to stand up in a OF .high tye bourbons usually work best .
To each their own, we say! For us, the balance was certainly there. And from memory, I don’t recall the spice fizzling much after some ice melting/dilution. But I will ask: when you say Four Roses Single Barrel are you referring to bottles made with mashbill B or E? Or both? Because my guess is they will make different OFs with a 15% difference of rye in their respective mash bills.
Old Fashioned Cocktails are typically made with Rye's not bourbons. Bourbons are too sweet and don't add the needed spice to create the best outcome IMO.
They’re traditionally made with rye as opposed to bourbon, but they are very commonly made with bourbon as well. To each their own! Cheers 🥃
Bourbons over 110 proof with high rye mash bills work fine. You have to go over 120 proof for low rye. I gravitate towards 95% ryes for all of my traditional cocktails.
We toured James Pepper distillery last summer. They said it was originally bourbon?
@@223rocks Ok yes, they probably referenced the story of the Pendennis Club? Of course the origin is murky. I do recall reading somewhere (escapes me at the moment) that it was more likely to have been made with rye than bourbon in the time frame that it was being served / came to prominence (in the mid 1800's). I checked Wikipedia to see what they say about it being rye vs. bourbon and found this:
"As cocktails became more complex, drinkers accustomed to simpler cocktails began to ask bartenders for something akin to the pre-1850s drinks. The original concoction, albeit in different proportions, came back into vogue, and was referred to as "old-fashioned". The most popular of the in-vogue "old-fashioned" cocktails were made with whiskey, according to a Chicago barman, quoted in the Chicago Daily Tribune in 1882, with rye being more popular than Bourbon. The recipe he describes is a similar combination of spirits, bitters, water, and sugar of seventy-six years earlier."
Link: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_fashioned_(cocktail)
There are other very interesting tidbits in that page as well. Hopefully you found this useful and thank you for your comment! Cheers 🥃
I have to agree. As someone who likes a burst of rye spice in an old fashioned, I can't fathom how 2 wheaters are at the top of this list.
Goes to show, don't spend too much when it comes to mixers!
You can make incredible Old Fashioneds with $20-$30 bottles! No need to break the bank. Cheers! 🥃🥃
Great that you did it blind?
The fairest way possible! Cheers 🥃
@@homebario Bought your recommendation. Been making old fashions with Makers Mark. Don’t taste much of anything with Larceny. Used 2 Ang bitters and 2 orange bitters instead of three and 1/4 ounce simple syrup and 2 oz Larceny. Seems less flavorful? Am I doing something wrong? Or it’s my palate? Was expecting more. Seems a little less sweet than Makers…to me no other notes come forward.
Love having these discussions…so thinking through it, there are some objective and subjective variables that can affect that. First, objective: doing more or less of any ingredient can affect the overall profile of the cocktail. So try it exactly like we had the recipe and see if it makes a difference. Also, did you make it with the neck pour? That can also affect the taste. The neck pour is the first pour from the bottle really (or the neck area of the bottle) and it can taste different because it has less exposure to oxygen. So, maybe give it another shot now that the bottle has ‘breathed’ a bit - that can affect the taste. Subjective: it may not be for you! 🤷♂️ totally possible. Maker’s is excellent and we love it too. We love both bottles, actually. Both wheaters, similar proof. But try it again with those pointers and see if it improves; we definitely aim to steer you in the right direction!
@@homebario Guess what. I re brewed my simple syrup with the correct formula and only used 3 Ang bitters and after some ice dilution the drink was wonderful. Tasted the spice notes. Definitely good.
Excellent! Glad to hear it!
Like another one or two things, the worst Old Fashioned is still pretty good.
Oh absolutely! I think around #13 we felt that the flaws started to fade and then it went to “of all these good Old Fashioneds, which tastes the best?”
DO NOT DID JIM BEAN IT IS PROBABLY THE BEST MIXING WHISKEY NECK IN NECK WITH JACK.
JB is great!
You didn't even try Piggy back that's the best Old forester 1910 2nd Eagle Rare 10year third
Have not tried Piggy Back bourbon! But totally agree with you that OF 1910 and ER both make a great old fashioned. We decided to have 15 slots, and prioritize more easily findable bottles. We tossed an allocated or two in there! But yeah, maybe we’ll do another round of bourbons next time. Our next planned experiment is the best rye whiskeys for an old fashioned. Any you’d like to see in that lineup? Piggyback rye maybe?
I’m still trying to wrap my brain around why these YT’ers made Old Fashions with some of those top-shelf bourbons? I wish I had money to burn like that.
Hey! Which bottles are you referring to? The vast majority of the bottles we tested were under $35. The Blanton’s cost us less than $100. The reason we tested Blanton’s is because we had heard it makes a great Old Fashioned and we thought others might be curious as well. Thanks for your comment!
The answer is none of the above. Try Rye.
What’s your favorite Rye Whiskey in an Old Fashioned?
Buliett works very well. If you want to spend more $$, Whistlepig 6, Michter.s, or High West Double Rye.@@homebario
Thank you for the suggestions! We’re planning on making a ‘Best Rye for an Old Fashioned’ video and we will try the ones we can get our hands on. Cheers!
Except that, any cocktail drinker worth their salt knows that an old fashioned should be made with Rye and NOT Bourbon.
It’s true that traditionally it is made with rye but it has become ubiquitously popular to make with bourbon as well. Both are excellent options, in our opinion. Cheers! 🥃
“Worth their salt”… it SHOULD be made with either, let’s not act like one is substantially, objectively better than the other.
any cocktail drinker "worth there salt" will use what they enjoy drinking instead of just using a rye just because....you should know that if you are one
@@stephensarmento3529 Exactly
"Traditional" Old Fashioned are made with Rye. "Modern" Old Fashioned are made with most Bourbons.