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Old Fashioneds
The Old Fashioned first appeared in the early 1800s in America and remains massively popular to this day. Explore some classics and tasty twists below.
The list
Where: Barbados, Trinidad, Guyana and JamaicaAge: VariousABV: 46.2%More info: A blended rum combining rums from Guyana (approx. 60%), Barbados (approx. 35%), and Jamaica (approx. 5%). Aromas of ripe pineapple, mango, and coffee, with a palate of dark chocolate, toffee, baking spices, and a hint of Jamaican funk.
Where: Kentucky, USAAge: Minimum of 7 yearsABV: 40%More info: If you haven’t heard of Evan Williams, I’m not entirely sure where you’ve been. The jewel of Heaven Hill Distilleries considerable crown, this bourbon ranks today as the second largest selling Kentucky straight bourbon and the second largest supply of aging Kentucky bourbon in the world. This sublime expression gives caramel apples, spearmint, black pepper. A light hint of corn sits in the background. A slightly spicy kick of clove.
Where: Ireland, Boann Distillery Age: Not statedABV: 33%More info: The Whistler Irish Honey Liqueur is made in small batches and combines some delicious bourbon matured and sherry cask finished whiskey from Boann Distillery, along with Irish honey harvested from the apple orchards of the Cooney family—the second largest cider producers in Ireland. It's smooth, sweet, and very very drinkable.
Where: Guyana. Diamond distilleryAge: 12 yearsABV: 40%More info: A great 12 year old Demerara rum from El Dorado. This has won golds at the Caribbean Rum Taste Test in London 7 times in the first 10 years! There are nine stills at the distillery, and this is based around coffey still rum, and double wooden pot still rum. A great old fashioned!
Where: DenmarkAge: 3 years, American oak cask. 6 months, Oro de Oaxaca mezcal cask.ABV: 46.3%More info: A particularly intriguing expression here from Denmark! Stauning's Bastard is a rye whisky, made using locally-sourced rye grain, which was initially matured in new, toasted American oak casks for three years. Following that, the whisky was moved over to casks that had previously held Oro de Oaxaca mezcal for six months! The spiciness of the rye at its heart works incredibly well with the earthy agave influence from the mezcal casks, making for an expression that is both delicious and fascinating.
Where: Oaxaca, MexicoAge: 100% Espadín (Agave angustifolia), aged for at least 8 yearsABV: 42%More info: Agave aficionado The Lost Explorer has created this joven mezcal with the well-loved Espadín agave, grown to full maturity and harvested at eight years old! The variety of agave is commonly used for good reason, adding oodles of ripe fruit among the smokier notes.
Where: Kentucky, Heaven Hill DistilleryAge: 8 and 12 years oldABV: 47%Small Batch Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey produced by the Heaven Hill Distillery at 94 proof (47% ABV), featuring a mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley. It is named after Reverend Elijah Craig, the pioneer credited with first aging whiskey in charred oak barrels.
Where: Matatlan, Oaxaca, MexicoAge: Unaged spirit. Espadín agave plants take between 7 to 12 years to mature ABV: 45%More info: Popcorn infused Mezcal Old Fashioned. Quiquiriqui Mezcals are award winning, handmade, single estate agave spirits crafted from 100% agave in Oaxaca, Mexico. Established in 2012.
Where: Kentucky, AmericaAge: minimum of 4 yearsABV: 50%More info: A rye whiskey in the Pennsylvania style, this "carries a famous old Philadelphia name". Very tasty and aromatic. On the palate, thick, fruity palate with chocolate oranges, cassia bark, nutmeg and oak.
Alcohol "proof" is a measure of the amount of ethanol in a drink, calculated in the United States as double the alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage, coming from a 16th-century test where liquor was mixed with gunpowder to see if it would burn. For example, 80 proof means 40% ABV.
Where: Glenfiddich, Balvenie, Kininvie Distilleries. Scotland. Age: No age statementABV: 40%More info: Monkey Shoulder is a blended malt Scotch whisky from William Grant & Sons, crafted using single malts from Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie—no grain whisky in sight. First launched in 2003 as a bartender-friendly alternative to traditional blends, it was aged in first-fill bourbon barrels and blended in small batches to create a smooth, versatile profile ideal for cocktails.
Where: Glenfiddich Distillery. ScotlandAge: 23 yearsABV: 40%More info: The folks at Glenfiddich clearly enjoy exploring new cask types for their whisky. Whether it's peaty whisky in rum casks, or making good use of icewine casks, the distillery certainly has some experimental flair. And if experimental flair is what you're after, Glenfiddich Grand Cru 23 Year Old is the perfect thing. This single malt initially ages in American and European oak casks, before being moved over to rare French cuvée oak casks. The influence these casks has had on the whisky is fantastic, lifting the palate with notes of baked goods and fresh fruit.
Where: Heaven Hill Distillery. Kentucky. USAAge: 4 yearsABV: 50%More info: Mellow Corn is a distinctive American whiskey produced by Heaven Hill Distillery. Classified as a straight corn whiskey, it is made with a mash bill of at least 80% corn, the remainder being a combination of malted barley and rye. It's aged in used oak barrels and has a light, golden colour and a bold flavour profile characterized by sweet corn, vanilla, and oak, with a touch of spice. Bottled at 50% ABV, it offers a strong, flavorful experience that stands out among other whiskies.
Where: Balvenie distillery. ScotlandAge: 14 yearsABV: 43%More info: A terrific single malt from The Balvenie. This Speysider was initially aged in traditional oak casks before it was finished in casks which previously held Caribbean rum, imparting some extra sweetness and warmth to the whisky. In fact, to create it, Balvenie malt master David C. Stewart made his very own blend of West Indian rums, filled it into casks, and then eventually replaced the rum in said casks with Balvenie's whisky! The fabulous result is a well-rounded whisky with notes of toffee, fruit and vanilla.
Where: Miyagikyo DistilleryAge: No age statementABV: 45%More info: Nikka Whisky is a premier Japanese whisky producer founded in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru, the "Father of Japanese Whisky,". While most distilleries use their Coffey stills only to make grain whisky, Nikka use the two Coffey stills at their Miyagikyo distillery to create malt whisky too. The Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky was introduced to their selection of expressions in 2014. Plenty rich and flavoursome, it's a wonderful addition to Nikka's fantastic range.
Where: USA/NetherlandsAge: Not statedABV: 35%More info: Well this is unusual and most exciting - American whiskey infused with peanut butter! Sheep Dogs are cool too, especially the one which adopted a pig and helped it herd sheep in the classic '90s film, Babe. This liqueur is a wonderful choice for anyone who enjoys a nutty treat, a very tasty Old Fash!
Where: West Indies Rum Distillery. BarbadosAge: 16 years. 2 years in 200-litre bourbon casks in the tropical climate of Barbados, followed by 14 years in 350-litre Ferrand cognac casks in FranceABV: 48.7%More info: Limited edition that was distilled in 2007 and bottled around 2023 from a small run of roughly 20 casks. Very intense and spicy on sweet cinnamon and nutmeg, roasted almonds, flambéed banana, citrus peel and soft floral notes of honeysuckle and vanilla.
Sweet-sour on citrus, custard, crême brûlée, coconut and pepper. Finish: Very long on coconut, spices, honey, anised, vanilla and hazelnut.
Where: West Indies Rum Distillery. BarbadosAge: Between 12 and 20 years. triple-ageing process: initial maturation in ex-bourbon casks in Barbados, secondary ageing in French oak Cognac casks in France, and a final finish in Pedro Ximénez (PX) sherry casks.ABV: 40%More info: Launched to celebrate Master Blender Alexandre Gabriel, this rum has become the most awarded XO rum, boasting over 55 Gold Medals. Paying homage to the fine Pedro Ximenez houses of Andalusia , Spain and by ageing for a third time in elegant ex-Pedro Ximenez casks which impart a nutty dried raisin mellow finish to this exquisite rum.
Where: Foursquare Distillery. BarbadosAge: 15+ yearsABV: 57%More info: Foursquare Penultimus - Exceptional Cask Selection Mark XXX is the first from the Bajan distillery to use Spanish Moscatel Casks in the maturation process. The thirteenth release in the brand's award-winning Exceptional Cask Selection series is made from a blend of two aged rums (pot and column) aged in bourbon casks for over ten years, before finishing for five years in the aforementioned moscatel wine casks. The single blended rum is bottled at 57% ABV without chill-filtration, additional colour, or sweeteners and other adjuncts.
Where: Heaven Hill Distillery, Kentucky Age: No Age Statement (NAS), though Heaven Hill describes it as "extra-aged"ABV: 47%More info: Elijah Craig was an early proponent of maturing whiskey in new charred oak barrels – a practice that would become commonplace in the decades that followed. This whiskey continues to use that technique on the producer’s very first extra-aged Kentucky straight rye whiskey, which has a mashbill of 51% rye, 35% corn and 14% barley. You will find notes of honeycomb, black pepper, dark chocolate and a dusting of cinnamon.
Where: Puebla, MexicoAge: UnagedABV: 45.3%More info: While the classic Montelobos Joven Mezcal is made using espadin agave, the Ensamble expression gives the espadin some friends to play with. This edition features tobala and papalote agave alongside espadin, resulting in a slightly more herbaceous and smoke-driven flavour profile. Gold Medal for Mezcal - Joven - 2019The Tequila & Mezcal Masters (The Spirits Business)
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