Top 10 Best Bourbon Whiskey For Old Fashioned Cocktails

1. Woodford Reserve Bourbon Whiskey

While Woodford Reserve may not be our favourite bourbon, it ranks highly as our primary Old Fashioned cocktail ingredient. As we commented in our main top 10 guide linked in the previous sentence, this Brown-Forman creation’s is mild, light, and subtle.

In some cases, this characteristic can be perceived as a weakness. Yet, it’s also Woodford Reserve’s greatest strength, especially if you’re not a big whiskey drinker. When mixed into an Old Fashioned, it seamlessly integrates the aromatic bitters and orange peel oils.

Meanwhile, it imparts its oil subtle vanilla and honey flavours into the concoction. Of course, if you like an Old Fashioned with a kick, it’s not the bourbon for you. However, if like them smooth and easy to drink, it’s a fantastic choice.

2. Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey

Originally a 12-year old expression, Elijah Craig’s small-batch bottling now incorporates 8-year bourbon due to stock shortages. However, it’s still a great bourbon that offers a pleasant harmony of flavour.

Like Woodford Reserve, it’s somewhat subtle and light. Since it’s particularly sweet, it results in a succulent Old Fashioned cocktail. Thanks to an oak-forward flavour profile, Elijah Craig also produces a very woody experience with subtle notes of connamon spice.

3. Maker’s Mark Bourbon Whisky

In the guide already linked above, our favourite overall bourbon is Maker’s Mark Cask Strength. While it would indeed be fantastic in an Old Fashioned, you don’t necessarily need such a premium option. In fact, the standard Maker’s Mark bourbon is just as good.

Identifiable thanks to its cognac-inspired bottle and hand-dipped wax neck, the classic Maker’s Mark is a popular bourbon – and for good reason, too. Often available at a very attractive price point, Maker’s Mark is quite sweet and subtle thanks to the heavy use of wheat in the mash bill.

4. Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey

Another affordable and easy-to-find bourbon whiskey, Buffalo Trace is produced at the historical George T. Stagg Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Although it can often be picked up for less than $30, the bourbon has officially been aged for at least 8 years. However, it doesn’t come with an age statement.

Thanks to its distinctive notes of honey, caramel, and orange, it expresses a character that can only be enhanced in an Old Fashioned. Its citrus notes are heightened while there are hints of brown sugar that extend the cocktail’s sweetness.

5. Bulleit Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

If you’d like an Old Fashioned with a bit of a kick, consider a spicy high-rye bourbon. For this experience, we’d suggest Bulleit, which doesn’t market itself as a high-rye bourbon but 28% of the grain is used in its mash bill.

Since he revived the brand in 1987, Tom Bulleit continues to use his great-great-grandfather’s century-old recipe. Its distinctive sourdough piquancy adds character to an Old Fashioned while its prickly hints of zesty citrus can be highlighted by sparing use of orange peel. Meanwhile, its caramelised flavour profile reminds you that you are indeed enjoying a bourbon whiskey.

6. Knob Creek Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Produced at the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, Knob Creek’s flagship expression that was first released in 1992 has undergone multiple changes in the last few years. Its 9-year age statement was briefly removed between 2016 and 2020 due to inventory shortages.

During this time, it was marketed as the “Original 100”, which referred to its 50% ABV in American proof. It has since been relaunched as both a 9-year and small-batch expression. It can be somewhat confusing as some stocks remain of the NAS version as well as the “Original 100” that was advertised as just a small batch production.

Affordable and rich in flavour, it’s an excellent bourbon for producing a potent Old Fashioned cocktail. Its heady oak and vanilla notes contrast nicely against the aromatic bitters while a hint of leather imparts a lingering muskiness.

7. Four Roses Yellow Label Bourbon Whiskey

Four Roses’ standard bourbon is often referred to as the “yellow label” in order to distinguish it from the brand’s more premium offerings. Despite its low cost, this light and floral bourbon ticks all the boxes and offers a very pleasant experience both neat and in an Old Fashioned.

Furthermore, Four Roses is quite transparent to the use of its mash bills and they’re blended. Therefore, if you’re fond of learning about what quantities of grain were used as well as the yeast strains for fermentation, all of this information is freely available to find online.

8. Jim Beam Black Bourbon Whiskey

Once sporting an 8-year age statement, Jim Beam’s Black Extra Aged is said to have matured for around 6 years before being bottled. While not as refined as its own Double-Oak or the small-batch Knob Creek expressions it owns, it’s a step above the classic white label.

Generally speaking, it’s quite inexpensive and a great choice as your primary Old Fashioned ingredient. It’s a classic bourbon with a straightforward oak essence that’s supported by glimmering hints of vanilla and caramel.

9. Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon Whiskey

Wild Turkey was launched shortly after Prohibition after the Ripy family renovated the Old Hickory distillery that it had originally built in 1891. The brand was purchased by Pernod Ricard in 1980 before it was then acquired by the Campari Group in 2009. Today, it is produced at a nearby facility that was launched in 2011.

The name “101” refers to its proof and the mash bill consists of 75% corn, which results in a very sweet bourbon. Its flavours are dominated by toffee and maple with faint hints of cinnamon spice. If you like a particularly sweet Old Fashioned, you won’t be disappointed when using Wild Turkey.

10. Larceny Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey

Voted “whisky of the year” by Whisky Advocate in 2020, Larceny followed Heaven Hill’s acquisition of Old Fitzgerald in 1999. Released in 2012, Larceny has a high level of wheat in its mash bill, which results in a light and subtle flavour profile.

Its mouthfeel is delicate and delivers notes of baking spices and honey with a delightfully stone fruit quality. Few bourbons use wheat in such a quantity so it’s an interesting alternative to more renowned expressions. That being said, Maker’s Mark is known for its wheaty mash bill so it does have some heavy-hitting competition!