The Best Old Fashioneds Around Atlanta

The Old Fashioned is one of the world’s oldest cocktails, and if you ask bartenders around town, it has long reigned king in the city of Atlanta as the drink of choice. In its most simplest form, it’s whiskey, sugar, bitters, and water garnished with orange or a cocktail cherry. However, there’s plenty of establishments around town making it new and fresh with their interpretations of this drink. Take a look at our roundup below!

1. The Establishment’s EST Old Fashioned

The Establishment is a personal favorite for excellent cocktails and service in Atlanta. The food totally hits, too! The Establishment uses a house made corn oleo for an extra bit of unexpected flavor in their Old Fashioned. 

2. Grant Park Social’s Old Fashioned

 790 Glenwood Ave SE Suite 250, Atlanta, GA 30316

Grant Park Social is a hidden gem in Atlanta. Tucked away in an unassuming spot in a strip mall, this cozy bourbon bar is serving up an impressive amount of whiskeys and cocktails. It’s an intimate spot that would be impressive for a date night, and they also do plenty of tastings. For their Old Fashioned rendition, they keep it pretty classic with Old Forester 86, 18:21 Barrel Aged Old Fashioned syrup, and Angostura Bitters. 

3. Gunshow’s Toasted Old Fashioned

Gunshow’s toasted is a drink and a show, all in one. The esoteric Gunshow has an ever-changing menu full of whimsy, but its flaming toasted old fashioned is a staple. Oh, and it tastes fabulous, too. 

4. Independent Co. Distilling’s Café on College

Georgia doesn’t have the liquor distilling culture that states like Tennessee and Kentucky do thanks to holdover Prohibition laws, but there’s been a recent force of local brands looking to make their mark on the liquor scene. Indepndent Co. Distilling is one of those places. This outpost in Decatur creates their own bourbon for this Old Fashioned interpretation, which also infuses coffee pecan syrup, chocolate bitters, and 18.21 Prohibition Aromatic Bitters.

5. The Red Phone Booth’s Smoked Old Fashioned

For a classic interpretation, try Red Phone Booth’s Old Fashioned, which partner Greg Grant describes as the Red Phone Booth’s signature drink. Red Phone Booth is a 1920s style speakeasy with locations in Buckhead, Downtown, and other cities across the Southeast. They’re known for a huge collection of rare whiskeys and spirits. 

6. South City Kitchen’s Chipped Pecan

Beverage Director and industry veteran Ian Mendelsohn is the man behind the bar at South City Kitchen and Fifth Group Atlanta’s other restaurants.  A pecan-infused molasses makes South City Kitchen’s Old Fashioned decidedly southern, and a dash of fernet adds herbal notes.