The Old Fashioned isn’t as much of a drink recipe as it is a template for building the 200 year old cocktail. With a short list of suggested ingredients, the whiskey based drink has a different makeup and taste from one bar or distillery tasting room to another. Whether it’s bitters that have been made on site, different forms of sugar or liquors to use as the sweetener, Plus the key ingredient is the whiskey or bourbon, that is used in the drink.No two are alike, but certainly some are better than others. 

This is the Old Fashioned Trail – a record and review of the classic drink as made by the local craft distilleries in Colorado and beyond. Of course taste is subjective. With that said, we use the following criteria to rate the different cocktails.

• Whiskey Base – Type of bourbon or whiskey used
• Bitters – Bottled or created at the distillery
• Garnish – Type used, look and taste
• Sweetener – Sugar, syrup or flavored liqueurs. 
• Ice – Type used, round, square or cubes

Ratings are based on taste and presentation using a rating scale of 1 to 10, with 5.0 being the normal, average Old Fashioned cocktail.