Updated June 2026.
There is no official better whiskey for an Old Fashioned. The current IBA card prints 45 ml bourbon or rye whiskey, one sugar cube, Angostura bitters, and a few dashes of water. Bourbon and rye are two types. “Better” is palate talk. Typical US whiskey is 40% One IBA build at 40% is one drink before melt. 100 proof is not bottled-in-bond by itself.
Related: Old Fashioned taste, Manhattan vs Old Fashioned, rye taste.
Card vs type
| Language | Drinks |
|---|---|
| Current IBA | 1.00 at 40% |
| Bourbon | Read the neck |
| Rye whiskey | Read the neck |
| 100 proof | 1.25 at 45 ml |
Pour math: whiskey drinks.
Sources
- iba-world.com Old Fashioned: 45 ml bourbon or rye, sugar cube, Angostura, water.
- 27 CFR 5.143 / 5.88. Typical US 40%. NIAAA December 2025. No better crown.