What makes a truly great Old Fashioned? Many think it’s just the whiskey and the bitters. But the secret ingredient, the one that ties everything together, is often overlooked: the syrup. Have you ever taken a sip of an Old Fashioned and felt something was just… missing? Maybe it was too sweet, or perhaps it lacked that deep, complex flavor you crave.
Choosing the right Old Fashioned syrup can feel like a maze. Should you go for classic sugar cube style, a rich demerara, or maybe a flavored option? The wrong choice can easily muddy the waters of your carefully selected bourbon or rye. We know you want that perfectly balanced cocktail every time, without the guesswork.
This post cuts through the confusion. We will explore the best types of Old Fashioned syrups available, explaining exactly what makes each one unique. By the end, you will know precisely which syrup will elevate your next home bar creation from good to unforgettable. Let’s dive into the sweet heart of the Old Fashioned cocktail.
Top Old Fashioned Syrup Recommendations
- HANDCRAFTED COCKTAIL: Enjoy the perfect Old Fashioned every time with Strongwater’s refined recipe. Well-balanced, roundly smooth & layered, this is the perfect addition to your bar cart for an old fashioned cocktail kit.
- SIP AWARDS WINNER: Our Old Fashioned mix was nationally recognized as a 2025 SIP Awards Platinum winner, an elevated example of cocktail mixers.
- ORGANIC CHERRIES & ORANGE ZEST: Tart organic cherries and fresh orange peel mixed with the perfect blend of cinnamon, clove, cardamom, and bitter herbs create the best Old Fashioned drink mixer.
- POUR AND ENJOY: Fill your glass with ice, add Strongwater Old Fashioned craft cocktail syrup, then add the whiskey, bourbon, or rye of your choice. Be sure to check out our Old Fashioned bitters, like classic cherry bitters or orange bourbon bitters. Stir it up & there you have it - the perfect Old Fashioned!
- NO-NONSENSE: This flavored cocktail mix is non-GMO & gluten-free. Contains no alcohol. Best used within 3-4 months of opening.
- Classic Old Fashioned Cocktail Syrup from Woodford Reserve
- Just add bourbon for a perfect cocktail!
- Natural cherry and orange flavor combined with bitters and raw demerara sugar
- EASY TO MAKE! Pour 30 ml of Woodford Reserve Bourbon, add 10 ml of the Old Fashioned Cocktail Syrup, stir, add ice and garnish - that's all you need to make a great Old Fashioned!
- Premium Ingredients: Made with organic cane sugar and natural aromatic bitters, our syrup provides the perfect balance of sweetness and depth needed for the classic cocktail.
- Easy to Use: Simplify your cocktail making with our syrup. Just add 2 oz of your favorite whiskey to each spoonful of syrup, stir, and optionally garnish with an orange peel to create a delicious Old Fashioned. Makes 64 servings.
- Quick and Consistent: Ideal for entertaining or a relaxed evening at home, our syrup allows you to whip up consistent, high-quality cocktails without the fuss of multiple ingredients.
- HANDCRAFTED BY BARTENDERS - Made by bartenders with real ingredients. The complex flavors in the craft cocktail mixer pair with aged spirits, like bourbon or rye whiskey, or even aged rum, scotch & other dark spirits.
- AWARD WINNER - Bittermilk No.1 Old Fashioned was the drink category winner of Garden & Gun magazine’s prestigious “Made in the South” Awards in 2013, and the product line has won 7+ Specialty Food Association’s SOFI Awards, including Outstanding Product Line and Best Cold Beverage.
- BOURBON BARREL AGED - Unique from other old fashioned mixes, Bittermilk old fashioned syrup is aged in freshly emptied, once-used Willett bourbon barrels to add complexity and allow the flavors intensify as it takes on notes of bourbon and charred white oak.
- SIMPLE TO USE - Just add booze. Stir 1 Part Bittermilk No.1 to 4 Parts Spirit with lots of ice, and garnish with an orange peel. The most complex and perfect old fashioned made at home with just two ingredients. Adjust the ratio recipe to your taste, and mix with your spirit of choice. Mixes best with aged spirits. Makes 17 or more cocktails per bottle.
- NO ARTIFICIAL INGREDIENTS - More than just bitters! We’ve taken classic bittering agents, like gentian root and cinchona bark, along with freshly milled spiced, burnt golden cane sugar and fresh orange peel, and slowly aged it all in bourbon barrels.
- CRAFT THE PERFECT OLD FASHIONED: Skip the guesswork and enjoy a bar-quality cocktail at home. Our syrup is expertly balanced with rich bitters, citrus notes, and natural sweetness for a smooth, classic Old Fashioned every time.
- PREMIUM INGREDIENTS: Made with real orange peel, cherry, and warm spices like cinnamon and clove to capture the timeless flavor of this iconic cocktail. No artificial flavors or shortcuts - just authentic taste.
- SIMPLE & CONVENIENT: Just add whiskey, bourbon, or rye, stir over ice, and garnish. In seconds, you’ll have a perfectly balanced Old Fashioned without the hassle of muddling or measuring.
- BAR-QUALITY, AT HOME OR ON THE GO: Whether you’re hosting a party, enjoying a quiet night in, or gifting a cocktail lover, our Old Fashioned syrup delivers a consistent, crowd-pleasing experience.
- CLEAN & RESPONSIBLE: Non-GMO, gluten-free, and alcohol-free syrup you can feel good about keeping on your bar cart. Once opened, best enjoyed within 3-4 months.
- Premium Cocktail Mix: Our Old Fashioned Cocktail Mix features real bitters and cane sugar, offering a gourmet Traditional flavor perfect for crafting high-quality cocktails at home
- Handcrafted Syrup: Enjoy the rich, handcrafted quality of our cocktail syrup, made to enhance your bartending skills with its unique and delicious flavor profiles
- Easy to Make: Create fast and easy craft cocktails with our syrup. Just mix with your favorite Bourbon, Whiskey, or Rye for a quick, professional-grade Old Fashioned
- Versatile Ingredient: Ideal for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, our natural syrups are perfect for cocktails or mocktails
- Generous Size: The 16oz bottle ensures you have enough mix for multiple servings, making it perfect for parties, gatherings, or enjoying drinks at home
- HANDCRAFTED COCKTAIL: Enjoy the perfect Old Fashioned every time with Strongwater’s refined recipe. Well-balanced, roundly smooth & layered, this is the perfect addition to your bar cart for an old fashioned cocktail kit.
- SIP AWARDS WINNER: Our Old Fashioned mix was nationally recognized as a 2025 SIP Awards Platinum winner, an elevated example of cocktail mixers.
- ORGANIC CHERRIES & ORANGE ZEST: Tart organic cherries and fresh orange peel mixed with the perfect blend of cinnamon, clove, cardamom, and bitter herbs create the best Old Fashioned drink mixer.
- POUR AND ENJOY: Fill your glass with ice, add Strongwater Old Fashioned craft cocktail syrup, then add the whiskey, bourbon, or rye of your choice. Be sure to check out our Old Fashioned bitters, like classic cherry bitters or orange bourbon bitters. Stir it up & there you have it - the perfect Old Fashioned!
- NO-NONSENSE: This flavored cocktail mix is non-GMO & gluten-free. Contains no alcohol. Best used within 3-4 months of opening.
- PERFECTLY BALANCED: We combined pure cane sugar and gum arabic with the optimal measure of aromatic bitters and cold-pressed orange oil to make this Old Fashioned Mix. The result is a perfectly-balanced, bar-quality Old Fashioned every time.
- THE REAL THING: We use bitters from one of the most well-respected manufactures in the world. This allows our syrup to make an Old Fashioned that is as proper as those served at the best bars and restaurants.
- SERVE IN RECORD TIME: Just stir 2 oz of your favorite whiskey with ¼ oz of our Old Fashioned Mix in a glass filled with ice and you have a bar-quality Old Fashioned in seconds. Pre-balanced bitters, cane sugar, and cold-pressed orange oil deliver a perfectly consistent, silky cocktail every time, whether it’s a quiet night in or a crowd-pleasing round for guests.
- IMPRESSIVE FORMULA, IMPRESSIVE ECONOMICS: Each 12.7 oz bottle makes 50 perfectly balanced Old Fashioneds. Our zero-excess-water formula delivers maximum value without sacrificing the premium quality discerning whiskey enthusiasts demand.
- PROFESSIONAL QUALITY FOR HOME BARTENDERS: Handcrafted by Liber & Co. in Austin, TX. Liber & Co. syrups are trusted by more than 1,000 top bars and restaurants across the country to craft outstanding signature cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages.
The Essential Buying Guide for Old Fashioned Syrup
An Old Fashioned cocktail is a classic drink. It needs the right ingredients for the best taste. Good syrup makes a huge difference. This guide helps you choose the perfect Old Fashioned syrup.
Key Features to Look For
When buying Old Fashioned syrup, check these important things:
1. Flavor Profile
- Balance: The best syrups have a good balance of sweet and bitter. You want sugar notes without it tasting like plain sugar water.
- Spice Notes: Authentic syrups often include hints of spice, like subtle cinnamon or clove. These add depth to your cocktail.
- Citrus Zest: Look for a natural hint of orange or lemon. This mimics the essential oils from an orange peel garnish.
2. Sweetener Type
The type of sweetener matters a lot. Simple syrups use white sugar. Demerara or Turbinado sugar syrups offer a richer, deeper molasses flavor, which many cocktail lovers prefer for an Old Fashioned.
Important Materials and Ingredients
The ingredients list tells you a lot about the syrup’s quality.
Primary Ingredients
- Water and Sugar: These are the base. High-quality syrups use filtered water.
- Natural Extracts: Good syrups use real bitters or natural flavorings, not artificial ones. Check for ingredients like Angostura extract or real vanilla bean.
What to Avoid
Avoid syrups with long lists of artificial colors or preservatives. These often mask lower-quality base ingredients. If you see “High Fructose Corn Syrup,” put it back. Real cocktail syrups use cane sugar.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
The way a syrup is made directly impacts how your drink tastes.
Quality Boosters
- Small Batch Production: Syrups made in small batches often receive more care. Quality control is usually better.
- Real Bitters Infusion: The best syrups infuse real cocktail bitters directly into the sugar and water. This creates a complex, authentic flavor.
Quality Reducers
- High Heat Cooking: If sugar is cooked too long or too hot, it can taste burnt or overly caramelized. This ruins the delicate spice notes.
- Artificial Ingredients: Artificial flavorings taste sharp and do not blend well with whiskey. They reduce the overall quality of your drink.
User Experience and Use Cases
Think about how you plan to use the syrup.
Ease of Use
A good syrup pours easily. It should mix smoothly into cold whiskey without needing aggressive stirring. Thick, gloppy syrups can be hard to measure and mix.
Beyond the Old Fashioned
While designed for the Old Fashioned, versatile syrups work in other drinks. You can use them in whiskey sours, coffee, or even to sweeten tea. Check reviews to see if other users recommend it for different uses.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Old Fashioned Syrup
Q: What is the main difference between Old Fashioned syrup and simple syrup?
A: Simple syrup is just sugar and water. Old Fashioned syrup adds bitters and sometimes citrus or spice flavors to mimic the traditional cocktail ingredients.
Q: Do I still need to add bitters if I use Old Fashioned syrup?
A: Usually, no. Quality syrups already have bitters infused. However, some people like to add an extra dash of bitters for a stronger flavor punch.
Q: How long does unopened Old Fashioned syrup last?
A: Most commercially bottled syrups last for one to two years unopened, similar to jam or honey, due to the high sugar content.
Q: Does the syrup need to be refrigerated after opening?
A: Yes, refrigeration is almost always required once opened. This keeps the natural flavors fresh and prevents spoilage.
Q: Can I use this syrup in bourbon or rye whiskey cocktails?
A: Absolutely. This syrup pairs perfectly with both bourbon (sweeter) and rye (spicier) whiskeys. It is designed for both.
Q: What does “Demerara” sugar mean in the ingredients?
A: Demerara is a type of raw cane sugar. It has a larger crystal size and a slight caramel or toffee flavor, which many bartenders prefer for a richer Old Fashioned.
Q: Is a homemade syrup better than a store-bought one?
A: Homemade syrup offers maximum control over flavor, but store-bought syrups save time. If you buy a high-quality, small-batch brand, the difference is often minimal.
Q: What should the ideal viscosity (thickness) of the syrup be?
A: The syrup should be slightly thicker than water, but thin enough to pour easily and dissolve quickly when stirred into the whiskey.
Q: Can I use this syrup to sweeten my coffee?
A: Yes, you can. The spice and citrus notes make it a great alternative to plain sugar in black coffee or espresso drinks.
Q: Does the syrup affect the alcohol burn of the whiskey?
A: The sugar content helps to smooth out the sharp edges of the alcohol, making the drink feel softer and more balanced on the palate.