This classic cocktail only has a few ingredients, but three top bartenders teach us how to level it up at home.

Last year Tibo Menut from Melbourne speakeasy Eau de Vie told us that an Old Fashioned is the one cocktail everyone should be able to make. Our Old Fashioned recipe is 50mL bourbon, 10mL sugar syrup, three dashes bitters and your choice of twist for garnish (we like orange). It’s simple, but that means getting the balance right is top priority, as is using tip-top whisky.

But which whisky is the right one? What’s the difference between whisky and whiskey? And what’s bourbon again? Here’s the need-to-know.

Whisky is a spirit that’s almost always made from mash, which is a fermented grain, that gets distilled and undergoes ageing (typically in a barrel). If you’re ready to take a deep dive into the world of whisky, we have you covered. As for the spelling, whisky (without the e) is used across Scotland, England and Wales, along with Canada, Japan and here in Australia. Whiskey is generally preferred in Ireland and the US.

As for bourbon, this type of whiskey (note the e) has strict rules. It has to be produced in the US, must be made with 51% corn, be distilled at less than 80% alcohol, before being put into barrels at 62.5% alcohol. Bourbon is aged in new, charred white oak barrels.

With all that in mind, we thought it best to hand it over to the experts. We spoke to three of our bartending mates from around the country to find out which whisk(e)y they’re using to make the very best Old Fashioneds.

Ryan Sweeney is a bartender and Australian whisky specialist at Melbourne’s longest running whisky bar, Whisky & Alement. Nick Corletto is the operating partner of Maybe Mae, a speakeasy cocktail bar in the heart of Adelaide’s CBD. And over in the west, Alex Kirwan is the venue manager at the Mechanics Institute in Perth’s Northbridge.

The Talisker Port Ruighe Single Malt Scotch Whisky

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1. Talisker Port Ruighe Single Malt Scotch Whisky

For Ryan at Whisky & Alement, a good Old Fashioned starts with quality whisky. "Good whisky is subjective and deeply personal. The first step is a simple one: pick a whisky that you like, whether neat, over ice or with cola, and try it in a new guise – the Old Fashioned." One of Ryan's whisky picks is Talisker's Port Ruighe Single Malt Scotch that hails from The Isles. "A robust malt packs a gentle smokiness, rounded out with notes of raisin and chocolate from that Port cask finish. It's bold enough to shine in an Old Fashioned and at a great price point too," says Ryan.

2. Archie Rose Double Malt Whisky

Like Ryan, Nick at Maybe Mae says picking the right whisk(e)y is the most important step. “Selecting the spirit you want to champion and elevate means you also want to consider what the whisk(e)y looks like when paired with your other ingredients. You don’t want to drown the profile of your selected whisk(e)y’s nuances,” he says. Nick is a fan of Archie Rose – the distiller is into its 11th year and has taken home more than 400 global awards – specifically its Double Malt Whisky. You’ll taste apricot jam, milk chocolate, tropical fruit and honey-roasted macadamias.

“An excellent bang-for-buck Aussie whisky – pair this up with a dab of golden syrup as the sweetener, a dash of Fee Brothers Old Fashioned Bitters (which is made with Angostura bark), and a dried apricot for the ultimate nostalgic Aussie experience,” says Nick.

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Buffalo Trace Bourbon is a great pick for an Old Fashioned

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3. Buffalo Trace Bourbon

For Alex at the Mechanics Institute – whose favourite cocktail is the Old Fashioned – Kentucky’s Buffalo Trace is a great starting point. “A good balance between flavour and easy drinking, perfect for when you’re entertaining friends, and if you want to change things up, try swapping out your sugar for maple syrup.”

Nick is also a fan of this bourbon – ”a perfect daily rider,” with notes of brown sugar and spice on the palate. “Use this with classic Angostura Bitters, orange peel and a simple white sugar. You really can’t beat this in terms of quality for value. This is as Old Fashioned as it gets.”

4. Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Select Bourbon

Yellowstone (also the name of your mum’s favourite TV show) is made from two high-rye straight bourbon whiskies out of Kentucky. This one, Ryan says, is for the sweet-tooths. “This particular bourbon has flavours of oak and caramel, but also cherry – throw a maraschino into the mix for a decadent Old Fashioned.”

Ryan says the few ingredients in an Old Fashioned are bold – Angostura, sugar, orange. “My second piece of advice is to pick a whisky that is itself bold and can stand up to those other ingredients. Spicy rye whiskies, sweet bourbons, or sherry matured whiskies are all great options.”

The Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Select Bourbon

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Starward Nova Single Malt Australian Whisky is made in Melbourne

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5. Starward Nova Single Malt Australian Whisky

Melbourne-based distiller Starward is Alex’s Aussie go-to when it comes to an Old Fashioned. “Starward Nova is a single malt, so it is a bit of a twist from the bourbons. Its finish in red wine barrels brings great red berries to the party.” Along with red berries, you can expect notes of cinnamon, chocolate and oaky spice.

6. Sazerac Rye 6 Year Old Straight Whiskey

The name Sazerac comes from the Sazerac Coffee House in New Orleans (AKA The Big Easy). “New Orleans knew what they were doing when the Sazerac was adopted as the cocktail of the city,” says Nick. The Sazerac became the official cocktail of NOLA in 2008.

Now, for Nick’s twist: “Let’s make an Old Fashioned with Sazerac Rye, a dash of Angostura Bitters, a dash of Peychaud’s Bitters, and leave the sugar out of the equation. Garnish with lemon peel for a refreshing, stirred-down sipper that’ll crush any heatwave.” And for a little tidbit, Sazerac whiskey is produced at the Buffalo Trace distillery.