In the pantheon of classic cocktails, there are very few mixed drinks that have stood the test of time and have had as much of a cultural impact as the old fashioned. Seemingly more popular today than ever before, the old fashioned ‘s genesis (like many classic cocktails) is shrouded in mystery. While there are disputing origin stories, it’s believed that some version of the cocktail was being made in the early 1800s, potentially featuring gin instead of whiskey. The Pendennis Club, located in Louisville, also claims that its then bartender James E. Pepper invented what we now know as the old fashioned sometime in the late 1800s.
The first mention of the cocktail in any legitimate written form was in 1895 when George Kappeler included it in the book ‘Modern American Drinks’. His recipe includes sugar, water, whiskey, Angostura bitters, and lemon peel. The contemporary version is usually (with slight variations to bitters and other ingredients) prepare by muddling sugar along with Angostura bitter and a splash of water. Then the whiskey (bourbon or rye) is added before it’s all garnished with an orange peel or cocktail cherry. It’s served in a chilled old fashioned glass.
While we love a good bourbon-based old fashioned, we prefer the less sweet, slightly spicier, peppery rye version. This is why, today, in an effort to help you make the best possible old fashioned, we’re going to list ten of our favorite rye whiskeys to use as a base. Keep scrolling to see all of the nuanced, cracked black pepper goodness.
Oregon Spirit Rye Whiskey
You might not have ever heard of Oregon Spirit and that’s okay. Now is the time to check this distillery out. Its Oregon Spirit Rye Whiskey is made with a mash bill of 100% Oregon-grown rye. It’s aged for a minimum of four years in new, charred American oak barrels and bottled at 90 proof. The result is a full-flavored, complex rye whiskey with notes of toasted vanilla beans, crisp apple, candied almonds, rich oak, and earthy, peppery rye spice. All of these flavors work perfectly in a classic old fashioned.
- Origin: Oregon
- Proof: 90
- Price Range: $40-50
Balcones Texas Rye Whiskey
Texas’ Balcones has become a big name in the whiskey world in the last few decades. And while it’s well-known for its bourbons, Balcones makes a pretty great rye whiskey as well. Balcones Texas Rye Whiskey is made with a mash bill of Texas-grown rye as well as crystal, chocolate, and roasted rye. This results in a 100-proof whiskey with old fashioned-worthy notes of candied pecans, sticky toffee, vanilla beans, oak, and cracked back pepper.
- Origin: Texas
- Proof: 100
- Price Range: $30-40
Knob Creek Rye Whiskey
Knob Creek is another brand more well-known for its award-winning bourbons. But you definitely shouldn’t sleep on its rye whiskey. Especially when you’re planning to use it as a base for an old fashioned. This small batch, 100-proof whiskey is known for its complex mixture of sweetness and spice with hints of vanilla beans, rich oak, caramel candy, dried fruits, and peppery rye. Its high proof will give your cocktail that added boozy kick you’ll appreciate on a cold night.
- Origin: Kentucky
- Proof: 100
- Price Range: $29-39
Michter’s US1 Rye Whiskey
While you might know Michter’s more for its bourbon, it really takes its rye very seriously. Don’t believe us? They go so far as to shear the rye to guarantee as much flavor as possible. Matured in fire-charred, new American oak casks, this butterscotch, vanilla bean, toffee, oak, dried fruit, cracked black pepper-filled whiskey feels like (If you aren’t exclusively sipping it neat or on the rocks) it was meant to be used as the base for an old fashioned.
- Origin: Kentucky
- Proof: 84.8
- Price Range: $39-49
Heaven’s Door Straight Rye Whiskey
Founded in 2018, Heaven’s Door is a brand co-founded by folk music legend Bob Dylan. The name is a reference to Dylan’s art studio where he world in metal sculpture. The brand makes multiple types of whiskey but, when it comes to the classic old fashioned, we prefer its Heaven’s Door Straight Rye Whiskey. This 92-proof whiskey gets its unique cinnamon, clove, toffee, dried fruit, oak, and white pepper flavor from being matured for a minimum of seven years, including finishing toasted oak cigar barrels from France.
- Origin: Tennessee
- Proof: 92
- Price Range: $79-89
WhistlePig 10 Year Small Batch Rye Whiskey
When it comes to American rye whiskeys, there are few brands more highly-regarded and well-known than Shoreham, Vermont’s WhistlePig. We believe that its 10-year-old small batch rye is a perfect choice for an old fashioned. This award-winning, 100-proof whiskey was sourced before aging again in virgin American oak casks. The result is a full-flavored, highly sippable, and mixable rye whiskey with notes of vanilla beans, candied orange peels, toffee, oak, and spicy cracked black pepper.
- Origin: Vermont
- Proof: 100
- Price Range: $70-90
Sagamore Spirit Rye Double Oak Whiskey
This award-winning rye whiskey starts with the brand’s straight rye whiskey that’s matured for at least four to five years in heavily charred American oak casks. The mature whiskey is then transferred to toasted wave stave barrels for another eighteen months. The result is very complex, well-balanced rye whiskey with flavors of sticky toffee pudding, vanilla, hazelnuts, toasted coconuts, candied pecans, and light pepper. It’s a great sweet and spicy base for your favorite old fashioned.
- Origin: Maryland
- Proof: 96.6
- Price Range: $45-65
Redemption Rye Whiskey
When it comes to American rye whiskey, there are few more well-known than Redemption. This sourced whiskey comes from Indiana and has a mash bill of 95 percent rye and only 5 percent barley. It’s aged for at least two and a half years and was crafted to taste the way rye whiskey tasted prior to Prohibition. It’s spicier than many of the others on the market with notes of bold wintry spices, candied orange peels, vanilla, oak, and peppery rye. It’s sure to give your old fashioned a spicy, peppery edge.
- Origin: Indiana
- Proof: 92
- Price Range: $20-30
Old Potrero Single Malt Straight Rye Whiskey
You might know San Francisco’s Anchor from its legendary brewery, but it also makes spirits now under the name Hotaling & Co. This includes Old Potrero 18th Century Style Rye Whiskey. Distilled in the style of the 18th century, this whiskey is made using 100 percent rye. It’s matured in toasted (not charred) oak barrels for two year and six months. This results in a very young, herbal, vanilla, toffee, and wintry spice-filled whiskey that is sure to give your old fashioned a unique flavor.
- Origin: California
- Proof: 97
- Price Range: $60-80
Bulleit Rye Whiskey
Bulleit Bourbon is one of the most recognizable whiskey brands in America. It’s well-known for its price-to-quality ratio. The brand also makes a high-quality, affordable, mixable rye whiskey as well. First released in 2011, Bulleit Rye has a bold, spicy mash bill of 95 percent rye and only 5 percent malted barley. The result is a memorable, nuanced whiskey that’s loaded with notes of honey, toasted vanilla beans, rich oak, baking spices, and peppery rye. All of which work perfectly as a neat sipper, on the rocks, or mixed into a traditional, timeless old fashioned.
- Origin: Kentucky
- Proof: 90
- Price Range: $25-35
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