If this is your first time reading AFewCocktails, then let me tell you that this is right up our alley. And if you've been reading our work for awhile then you know that Old Overholt would hold a special place in our heart. We've always liked The OLD, and what we mean by that, is we enjoy brands, bars, cocktails that have managed to persist throughout time due to some tangible and intangible qualities. Old Overholt is the oldest of the continually operating whiskey brands in the United States. This rye whiskey perfectly pairs in both the traditional way and in newer cocktail creations.

We're going to recommend our favorite recipes with a special AFewCocktails twist on each one.

Can You Drink Old Overholt Neat?

Why of course you can. We find Old Overholt to carry a strong rye whiskey flavor that you would expect. Sometimes we find Old Overholt to be a bit peppery. While you can drink it neat or through back a few shots, we generally prefer to drink Old Overholt over some ice or mixed into a cocktail.

Old Overholt Sazerac Cocktail

Old Overholt is the perfect rye whiskey to pair with a Sazerac cocktail. A sazerac is perhaps America's oldest cocktail so its more probably than not that some of the first sazeracs were made with Old Overholt.

Our Recipe

Ingredients :

• Absinthe

• 2 Dashes of Peychaud's Bitters

• 2 Ounces Old Overholt Rye Whiskey

• Lemon Peel

• 1/2 Ounce of Simple Syrup

Directions : 

• Rinse chilled glass in Absinthe

• Dash in Peychaud's bitters

• Add simple syrup and rye

• Lemon Peel

• Stir

• Serve Up

Old Overholt Old Fashioned

Truthfully, we just wanted an excuse to say old twice in a singular cocktail recipe. Or as we like to call it, the OOO Fashioned. Classic whiskey cocktail or classic cocktails in general tend to pair best with strong and bold flavored liquors similar to Old Overholt. So keep it simple and go for the classics. The cherry juice for the maraschino cherry pairs quite nicely.

Our Recipe

Ingredients :

• 1 Brown Sugar Cube

• 1/2 Orange Slice

• 1 Maraschino Cherry

• A Dash (or two) of Angostura Bitters

• 2 Ounces of Bullit Rye

Directions : 

• Pour a touch of water in the bottom of the glass

• Muddle the sugar in the glass

• Add the cherry and bitters

• Pour in the Rye

• Stir 50-100 times

Old Overholt Manhattan

We love the manhattan. A cocktail that manages to blend two separate liquors (three in our recipe). Also, its a cool cocktail to make and most cocktail connoisseur will enjoy it.

Our Recipe

Ingredients :

• 2 Ounces Old Overholt Rye Whiskey

• 2 Ounces Bourbon

• 2 Ounces Red Vermouth

• 5 Bitters, 2 Angostura + 3 Orange

• Maraschino Cherry

Directions :

• In a large shaker combine the Rye Whiskey, Bourbon and Red Vermouth

• Dash 2 Angostura Bitters + 3 Orange Bitters

• Shake well and serve in a Martini glass

• Add cherry for garnish

Closing Thoughts

Like all great whiskeys, Old OVerholt is just a vehicle for cocktails. It's strong flavors blend well with lemon juice, or mixes well into a whiskey sour. An Old Overholt cocktail can really be anything and if you're feeling bold and want to feel like a cowboy from Tombstone than you can drink Old Overholt Rye whiskey straight up. It may put a few more hairs on your chest but you can't go wrong. We will make one final recommendation when drinking an Old Overholt cocktail, our recommend for overholt cocktails it to keep it simple. Do go adding a ton of different mixers or obscure bitters. The beauty of this whiskey is the simplicity and its tried and true flavor profile. Of all the straight rye whiskey that we enjoy, this one hold a place in our heart due to its influence on American history.