At its most basic, Old Fashioned mix is a pretty simple mix of sugar syrup and bitters. But the best Old Fashioned mix takes it up a notch with added spices or fruit flavors. It doesn’t just make drink-making easier. A top-notch Old Fashioned mixer makes an Old Fashioned worthy of a craft cocktail bar—and all you need to do is add whiskey and ice.
We tested ten different Old Fashioned mixes—both on their own and with rye whiskey (I think rye is a better blank canvas for Old Fashioned drink mix than bourbon since it’s not as sweet). And we were shocked by how different they were. So, while we named a number one best Old Fashioned mix, which we think creates the most classic Old Fashioned cocktail, there are also four other Old Fashioned mixes that might appeal more to you. Perhaps you prefer a more spiced take on an Old Fashioned, or maybe you’re coming from Wisconsin and like your Old Fashioned made with muddled fruit. There’s an Old Fashioned cocktail mix on here that caters to your taste. Here’s the best Old Fashioned mix you can buy at the grocery store or online.
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- Finest Call Old Fashioned Mix
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If you’re hosting some sort of giant party fueled by Old Fashioneds, this is the best Old Fashioned mix to buy. You can get a full liter (that makes about 16 drinks) for well under $10. Will it make craft quality Old Fashioneds? No. But they’ll taste just about as good as anything you get at a chain restaurant and require very little work from you. The flavor is quite sweet and it has a touch of that fake maraschino cherry flavor. Lean into it and throw a couple of those bright red babies into every glass.
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- Barsmith Old Fashioned Mix
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Made with all natural ingredients, this Old Fashioned mixer leans heavily into the winter spices. We’re talking cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg—the classic Christmas spices. Break this out when the weather starts to turn for an accidentally seasonal Old Fashioned. Just one note: It’s very sweet, so scale back as needed. The label calls for one ounce of mix stirred with two ounces of spirit, but I preferred a cocktail made with three-quarters of an ounce of the mix.
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- Bittermilk Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Fashioned Mix
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If you like your Old Fashioned muddled with orange slices and cherries (aka a Wisconsin Old Fashioned), then this is the best Old Fashioned mix for you. It packs a ton of fruity cherry flavor without tasting medicinal. But it’s balanced, too, with noticeable flavors of bitters. I don’t get a ton of oaky flavor, but there is a hint of vanilla, perhaps from the bourbon barrel.
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- Proof Old Fashioned Mix
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Some people want their Old Fashioned to taste sweet and fruity, others want it to taste like lightly sweetened whiskey. This is the best Old Fashioned mix for the latter group. It’s very subtle, made with just cane sugar, bitters, and citrus oils. It really lets the whiskey shine, so make sure you’re using a good one.
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- Strong Water Old Fashioned Mix
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If you’re looking for a classic, no funny business, traditional Old Fashioned, this is the best Old Fashioned mix money can buy. Made with demerara sugar (which is richer than white sugar), orange peel, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, and “bitter herbs,” per the brand, it creates a rich, soothing cocktail. Don’t be dismayed by the small bottle. It’s very concentrated, so you only need a quarter-ounce of the stuff to make one cocktail. It supports and enhances the whiskey, rather than covering it up, and simply makes an Old Fashioned just that much better than you could make yourself from scratch.
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Best Cheap and Big
Best Spiced
Best Cherry Flavor
Best for Good Whiskey
Best of the Best
Other Old Fashioned mixes we tried: Sayso Old Fashioned Sachets, Master of Mixes, Cocktail Crate, Woodford Reserve, Liber & Co
