Go EASY please.
Just getting into Old Fashioned cocktails.

Best pre-mix, or complete (alcohol) to try before getting all the ingredients to try?

For Pre-mix, I like Husqvarna XP+ Synthetic Blend 2-Stroke Oil, and I like to mix it w/ 100 Octane Race Fuel...Really gets your motor going!

HANDY & SCHILLER Signature Cocktails Old Fashioned cocktail. Made with Buffalo Trace Bourbon. Excellent taste, 84 proof.

It’s 3 ingredients. Why would you need a mix? Bourbon, sugar, bitters.

If you like the Old Fashioned, you might want to try another classic, the Manhattan, similar, but not so sweet. Resist the lure of the simple syrup!

The whiskey used is paramount, don't cheap out here. Rye is often preferred over sweeter bourbons, probably goes better with the sugar.

The pre mixed stuff is awful. Tried the Bulliet one a year ago- waaaay to sweet. Youre much better off getting all the ingredients together and making it yourself then adjusting the amounts to your taste. Good quality bitters, simple syrup, luxardo cherries, and some orange just for zest. I agree with the Rye vs Bourbon part- some bourbons as an old fashioned come off too sweet for me, but a good Rye balances it nicely.

Orange peel, cocktail cherries and....Boom. Don't eat the orange peel, eat the cherries

My son was given a number of 375ml bottles of this and he really likes it! Not overly sweet!
"A generous pour of Knob Creek Bourbon Whiskey, bitters, cane sugar, orange, cherry, and lemon zest."

Eli Mason

https://elimason.com/

The Bulleit pre-made is ok, imo, but all the pre-mades tend to be very sweet.

I like making my own, though, preferably with rye whiskey.

quote:

Originally posted by frayedends:
It’s 3 ingredients. Why would you need a mix? Bourbon, sugar, bitters.

I agree 'cept maybe a garnish.
... and smoking it is kinda cool thing too, I've done that a few times and it makes a tasty drink.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:

quote:

Originally posted by frayedends:
It’s 3 ingredients. Why would you need a mix? Bourbon, sugar, bitters.

I agree 'cept maybe a garnish.
... and smoking it is kinda cool thing too, I've done that a few times and it makes a tasty drink.

Yup. I agree with Luxardo cherries and maybe an orange peel. I also have the kit to smoke them. Haven’t used it enough. But did it just a few days ago and it’s great.

I also agree with the guy’s suggesting rye. I’ve done them with rye, bourbon,even aged rum with maple syrup and walnut bitters.

quote:

Originally posted by frayedends:
It’s 3 ingredients. Why would you need a mix? Bourbon, sugar, bitters.

This. A good Old Fashioned requires just a few ingredients.

There’s a pre-mixed Bulleit brand Old Fashioned at Costco, which I have found to be too hot for my taste, liquor-wise, so I usually cut it with water and/or some extra simple syrup.

For what it’s worth, in the fall I make “Brown sugar Old Fashioned” as a sipper, which is the same as a standard Old Fashioned, but when I make the simple syrup I use brown sugar instead of my typical turbinado. (Microwave a cup or two of water to get it almost boiling, stir in equal parts white sugar, brown sugar, or turbinado until it dissolves and then pour into a jar with a lid and keep it in the fridge for a couple weeks, typically. So one cup water + one cup sugar of your choice = simple syrup.)

Brandy
White Soda
Bitters
Sugar
Cherry Juice

For pre-mix get either Bulleit or St. Elmo's.

quote:

Originally posted by Lefty Sig:
For pre-mix get either Bulleit or St. Elmo's.

You haven't tried On The Rocks Knob Creek Old Fashioned cocktail (cited above) which is quite new to the market.

You guys do what with whiskey?

Glass

Whiskey

Little water

Ice (maybe)

Regarding the simple syrup, I use Demerara sugar most times. I do 2:1 ratio of sugar to water. The reason is that 2:1 will not get moldy. If you do equal parts it can get some black mold in it. If it's brown sugar you may not even see it. But the 2:1 is shelf stable. Just use a bit less when making your drink and stir a bit longer for more dilution.

Or if you do a real classic old fashioned, you won't use syrup at all. You put a sugar cube in the bottom of the glass, 4 dashes of bitters on the sugar cube, muddle it a bit (some people muddle the luxardo cherry and a slice of orange with this). Then add ice, pour whiskey over and give it a stir. The nice thing about this method is it gets sweeter as you drink it. Some people like getting the sugar crystals as the drink gets lower and lower.

I like them made with Woodford. At home I skip the fruit but the best places have used them. It is nice when they swipe the rim with the orange and give the cherries a slight squish. Angostura bitters and a little sweetener is all it takes. Test sugar or simple syrup to find your preference and amount.

For something different, one place here uses a splash of 7up or Sprite as the sweetener. Probably should have it’s own name but it was surprisingly good but a little different.