Where to get the best Old Fashioned in Bangkok
With cocktail-centric bars popping up all over town, who does the best Old Fashioned?
9 years ago
Joining the likes of Sazerac and White Lady, the Old Fashioned is currently among Bangkok’s favorite “forgotten classic” cocktails, and many bars have been putting their own spin on the simple recipe of bourbon (or rye) whiskey, angostura bitters, a dash of water (or soda), an ice cube, a twist of lemon and a cherry to garnish. Here are our favorite places for this simple drink, from modern interpretations to those who prepare it the traditional way.
The Alchemist
In a small alley in the middle of Sukhumvit Soi 11, next to Snapper and Cheap Charlie’s, The Alchemist bar is known for its easy-going vibe and the occasional jam session. Despite its size, the bar is well-stocked and serves a good mix of cocktails at pocket-friendly price points.
Why we like it: This Old Fashioned (B320) follows the classic mixing method of melting a sugar cube with angostura bitters and a dash of water, which is added to Maker's Mark and served with an ice cube in a low-ball glass. It is garnished with a twist of burned orange peel for that aromatic touch. Simple but amazingly good.
1/19 Sukhumvit Soi 11, 083-549-2055. BTS Nana.
Eat Me
Perpetually at the pointy end of BK’s annual Top Tables guide, Eat Me doesn’t only serve good food; it also has an interesting list of signature cocktails, from classics to inventive creations.
Why we like it: Here, the Old Fashioned is served with bubbly and dubbed the “Old-Fashioned Champagne” (B460). The drink uses Johnnie Walker Black Label as its base, which is mixed with angostura bitters, cinnamon and sparkling wine instead of the usual soda water. Burned orange peel is used as an alternative garnish to lemon.
1/6 Phiphat Soi 2, Convent Rd., 0238-0931. BTS Sala Daeng.
Sugar Ray
This syrup-making team specializes in infused cocktail ingredients, which are mixed by a professional barman to produce quality drinks.
Why we like it: The barman crafts this Old Fashioned (B350) using bourbon as the base whiskey and mixing it with house-made orange syrup, a dash of soda and bitters. It is then served with a handcrafted ice ball, lemon twist and cherry. Sugar Ray is the only place in this list to garnish its drink with a cherry. Specifically, one which is infused with different ingredients and produced in limited batches, meaning the drink is slightly different each time.
2/F, Baan Ekkamai, Ekkamai Soi 21, 086-547-4633. BTS Ekkamai.
Water Library Thonglor
Aside from its excellent culinary skills, Water Library is also one of the best cocktail places in Bangkok thanks to the creations of Italian mixologist Mirko Gardelliano, who creates home-infused spirits like gummy bear vodka and guava gin.
Why we like it: Gardelliano makes his own bitters, which he adds to a pretty standard Old Fashioned recipe: whiskey, a dash of soda, a lemon twist. Guests can also choose which whiskey they’d like, from classic bourbons to a large variety of Scotch single malts (Starting from B320).
Grass Thonglor, 264/1 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Thonglor), 02-714-9292/3. BTS Thong Lo.
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