The Best Old Fashioneds in D.C.

Here are just a few places that are taking these three basic ingredients and trying something new: bringing in some sweet, some heat, and a lot more pandan than you’d expect.

Velho Tamarindo at Cana

Although Cana markets itself as a caipirinha bar (and believe me, they do the signature Brazilian cocktail well), they have one of the city’s best new Old Fashioneds hidden away on their menu too. The bar strips back everything you know about the drink, leaving just the bourbon base (but finished with amburana) and then adding its own Brazilian flavors, including guava, banana, and the signature tamarind. Its namesake ingredient gives it a tangy caramel flavor that feels like it could easily be found on a beach in Rio.

Signature Old Fashioned at Jack Rose Dining Saloon

Jack Rose, with its 2,700 different whiskeys, doesn’t make an Old Fashioned. They make the Old Fashioned. Wild Turkey, demerara, and bitters. That’s it. This is for the staunch traditionalist who wants an alcohol-forward drink, and they want to have it in a dimly-lit room while sitting in a smooth leather booth. If you want to switch it up a bit, though, they’d be happy to switch out the Wild Turkey for something else from their robust selection.

Alchemist Old Fashioned at the Alchemist

Tucked away behind a hidden door, this speakeasy is secretly serving up a simple and smooth Old Fashioned with just a hint of pageantry. As the name would suggest, they love to play with fire at the Alchemist, and their eponymous Old Fashioned runs with that idea. Served with a blowtorch and a skull head that looks like something out of Indiana Jones, the drink is smoked at the table while sugar and orange rind are charred beforehand. This brings out a real depth of flavor from every ingredient while keeping things quite traditional.

Daddy Issues at Service Bar

Recently re-anointed as one of North America’s 50 Best Bars, Service Bar is sure to impress with not one but two Old Fashioned options. While those looking for something traditional and alcohol-forward may want to go with the Whiskey Whiskey, the Daddy Issues is something a bit more unique than your own father’s preferred pour. A combination of black cardamom-infused Michter’s, fig balsamic, and creme de cacao gives it a smoky, verging on umami profile. It is not too sweet but still has the richness of a good dessert, making for a great nightcap.

Old Fashioned at Eebee’s Corner Bar

D.C.’s hottest new bar naturally has a perfectly simplistic Old Fashioned to match its neighborhood vibes. Incredibly smooth and just sweet enough, the two bars at Eebee’s offer two versions with either Old Grand-Dad or Old Bardstown, but the pro move is to ask for it with a scotch, like Highland Park, for a bit of lightness and smoke.

Tell M’iwai at Anju

There is a reason that this is the first cocktail the wait staff at Korean hit Anju will tell you to order. Taking the light and gentle flavor of Japanese Iwai whisky and washing it in sesame oil gives the drink a rounded, nutty flavor with a creamy mouthfeel. This melts together perfectly with black tea-infused tart cherry juice and rhubarb bitters, which makes the whole concoction very refreshing and just a little bit too easy to drink. If you’re looking for something a little more classic, the Seoul Fashioned is also available, but this one is just too special not to highlight.

Draft Old Fashioned at Last Call Bar

If you’re looking for a no-frills Old Fashioned that goes down smooth and is easy on the wallet, Last Call has what you need, and the owners are so confident in it that they keep it on draft all year round. It’s alcohol-forward for those who don’t want something too sweet and, at $8, is by far the most affordable on this list.

Beijing Old Fashioned at Chang Chang

It might not be common to sip an Old Fashioned alongside mapo tofu, kung pao chicken, and fried rice, but Chang Chang is not your ordinary Szechuan restaurant. The wild banana chai-infused whiskey and cardamom clove syrup give the drink a balanced, smoky, sweet flavor that lends itself well to the restaurant’s spicy menu.

A5 Aura Old Fashioned at Kyojin

If you’re looking for an Old Fashioned that makes you feel truly luxurious, look no further than Georgetown sushi parlor Kyojin. This most decadent variation strains a light-bodied Iwai 45 through an A5 wagyu beef fat wash to add depth. It’s blended with walnuts, chocolate, and pandan, giving the somewhat salty finish a subtle sweet undertone.

Lakhan’s Old Fashioned at Tapori

Co-owner Dante Datta and manager EJ Apaga take a yin and yang approach to developing their cocktail menu at Tapori. While Dante is very interested in unique drinks you won’t see anywhere else, EJ focuses on elevating the classics. Their perfect Old Fashioned falls more into the latter camp, taking Wild Turkey bourbon and marrying it with a slightly spicy, smoky chaat masala and the delicious, unrefined jaggery cane sugar that is popular across the South Asian subcontinent.

Ni De Aqui Ni De Alla at Providencia

“Ni de aquí, Ni de allá” is the immigrant experience summarized in a single sentence, describing the complexity of being between two cultures. Co-owners Pedro Tobar and Danny Gonzalez turn this sentence into liquid form at Providencia, blending classic Kentucky bourbon with small-batch Oaxacan mezcal. Plantains give the drink a distinctly soft sweetness that radiates through every sip. It reminds us that Latin American ingredients enhance the more traditional flavors of our shared America.

Phố Cổ (Old Quarter) at Moon Rabbit by Kevin Tien

The 50 Best Organization’s 24th best restaurant in North America serves a fantastic version of the classic drink. Michelin award-winning beverage director Thi Nguyen infuses a Rittenhouse Rye with toasted rice to give this Old Fashioned a perfect grainy mouthfeel. The rye is then combined with pandan syrup that adds a little sweetness. The balanced drink pairs well with Susan Bae’s award-winning desserts.