The Martini and Manhattan may reign supreme in major metropolitan areas like New York City, but the Old Fashioned has become the drink of choice in many pockets of the country.
Given that it’s the purest expression of bourbon short of ordering whiskey neat or on the rocks, it doesn’t take a detective to figure out why the Old Fashioned is so ubiquitous in cities like Louisville. But what remains somewhat puzzling is how the cocktail was able to gain so much favor among Gen Z and millennials. Is it just because the Old Fashioned tends to be a reliable drink order at most bars, or do young drinkers actually favor bourbon over other spirit categories?
On this episode of the “VinePair Podcast,” Adam, Joanna, and Zach discuss some takeaways from the recent Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Competition, including the relative merits of cocktails made from vintage spirits, and the somewhat surprising fact that the Old Fashioned is the clear bourbon cocktail of choice for millennials and Gen Z. Tune in for more.
Joanna is drinking: 1970s Rusty Nail at SEVEN
Adam is drinking: Antique Negroni at SEVEN
Zach is drinking: Kiona Vineyards Lemberger
