Sure, it's simple as hell - but there's something so satisfying about sipping on an old fashioned. From Mad Men's Don Draper to the city of Louisville naming it as their official drink, we're not the only ones who love this blend of bitters, whisky or bourbon, and sugars. While it may have originated across the pond in the US, London's bars haven't let that stop them creating their own take on the classic; we've rounded up 10 of the best old fashioneds in the city.
This Grade ll-listed is a Fitzrovia classic, with traditional interiors and an unbeatable food menu made up of next-level pub grub. Aside from the Guinness-infused Irish coffee, another must-try is the sticky toffee old fashioned, made with brown butter bourbon, PX sherry and a dash of bitters.
If you're after a place that offers more than just drinks, Dovetail Bar in Clapton is where you'll find all the right ingredients: cosy interiors, eclectic tunes, and a killer cocktail list that blends the old and the new.
Every visit feels like a new discovery, from their seasonal specials to the carefully selected spirits on display. It's old fashioned is a standout tipple - made with Wild Turkey 101, Monkey Shoulder, Talisker 10, Picon Amer, shortbread and spiced maple, it can be all yours for just £11.
With a menu spanning 14 cocktails carefully curated around colour, Cato doesn't serve up your traditional Old Fashion. Its reimagining, Chestnut + Brown Butter, is a sensational combination of rum, caramelized chicken broth “brown” rum, chestnut praline, and bitters.
Try your hand at some equally creative tipples while you're here. The Apricot + Sea packs in whisky, apricot wine, foraged buckthorn, fermented ginger, and stone fruit soda while the Sweet Woodruff + Cream combines gin, foraged sweet woodruff, and koji and buttercream liqueur.
For a night that's part chemistry lesson, part culinary delight, head to The Alchemist across locations like Victoria, Covent Garden or Shoreditch.
If you're looking for a fab Old Fashioned, you'll find it here too as part of its chemistry and theatre selection. The Smokey Old Fashioned includes Buffalo Trace bourbon, maple syrup, Jerry Thomas bitters and lots of smoke. Set against a backdrop of industrial-chic interiors, this venue promises an evening that's equal parts stylish and spectacular.
If you're looking for a quirky old fashioned cocktail in London, then head to The Last Talisman on Bermondsey Road. Their banoffee-infused tipple includes caramelized banana bourbon, rye, whiskey and chocolate bitters.
Renowned award-winning Soho cocktail bar Swift is always a good idea when you're in need of a top-quality drink. Unlike its famous lemon sherbet-topped sgroppino, their classic old fashioned isn't on the menu – meaning you'll have to make a special request. But don't worry; it will be worth it.
Award-winning sustainable bar Little Mercies is a likely spot for finding your new favourite old fashioned. Their take on the classic is inspired by a Snickers bar, mixed with peanut butter, cacao nibs, salted chocolate and Evan Williams bourbon whiskey – making for a truly innovative sip priced at just £10.50.
Tricky to find behind heavy, unsigned wooden doors, sandwiched between shops near Old Street station, the basement room pulsates with live music, friendly bar staff and a buzzing atmosphere. Look out for the Toronto, a development on the old fashioned, with candy floss, orange blossom smoke and a coffee and roasted pecan syrup thrown in, all mixed with a delicious Woodford Reserve Bourbon.
Middle Eastern restaurant and lounge bar Ruya is known for its slick interiors and contemporary dishes – but they also have some incredible cocktails to match. Don't miss out on their Ottoman old fashioned, stirred with Maker's Mark whiskey, tobacco and date syrup and a spritz of orange.
Black Rock is a go-to whisky bar known for it's 185-year-old oak tree trunk that they use to age their liqour. With no menu and no bar, visitors are left to fend for themselves – which means they can use all the help they can get in the way of drink recommendations. We propose you order the New World old fashioned, made with Ezra Brooks bourbon, Ledaig Rioja Cask and marshmallow.
