Updated June 2026.
An Old Fashioned is whiskey, sugar, bitters, and (usually) a little water or ice. The IBA spec is 4.5 cl whiskey — about 1.5 ounces — plus a sugar cube and dashes of Angostura. That 1.5-ounce 80-proof pour is one NIAAA standard drink; a 2-ounce bar pour is 1.33 drinks at 40%, 1.67 at 100 proof. “Best whiskey” is the bottle that still tastes like whiskey after sugar. This is not a 2022 top-15 tasting.
Rye is the historical American call; bourbon is the sweeter modern default. Bonded 100-proof rye (Rittenhouse) or bourbon (Evan Williams White) will not disappear under a cube. 80-proof blends can taste thin. Barrel-proof needs more dilution. Dash size: dash of bitters.
What the drink actually needs
| Job | Typical bottles | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Classic rye spice | Rittenhouse Bonded, Wild Turkey Rye, Old Overholt Bonded when you see it | 51%+ rye (TTB). 100 proof stands up to sugar. |
| Bourbon default | Old Forester 100, Wild Turkey 101, Four Roses, Maker’s (wheat, softer) | New-char oak + 90–101 proof. |
| Budget that still works | Evan Williams Bonded, Old Grand-Dad 100, Barton 100 | Cheap bourbon with proof. |
| Skip unless you want it | Honey/cinnamon whiskey, 60-proof liqueurs | Different class; extra sugar on sugar. |
Four 2-ounce 80-proof Old Fashioneds are about 5.3 standard drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. Allocation bottles are wasted if you drown them in syrup. Pour math: whiskey drinks.
Sources
- IBA Old Fashioned: 4.5 cl whiskey, sugar, Angostura (competition spec; bars vary).
- TTB rye / bourbon identity. Bonded = 100 proof.
- NIAAA standard drink (December 2025). No invented ranking or MSRP.