A good Old Fashioned is a siren song I can’t ignore. It’s partially that I feel cool drinking/ordering them, but it’s also because they’re just so damn tasty.
The first time I had an Old Fashioned was at a restaurant in college. My friend and I split one (I kid you not), and I think we both gagged upon impact. But now I’m older and wiser, and very rarely do I spike my Sonic drinks with flavored vodka.
Once you start working in the advertising industry, where all the guys at happy hour order their scotch neat, you’re basically required to step up your drink game. So here it is, straight from an ad (wo)man: the five best Old Fashioneds in Oklahoma City.
Packard’s New American Kitchen
The Old Fashioned from Packard’s is best served on the rooftop in a plastic glass. They don’t mess around — very little liquid, very little ice, but it packs a big punch. Packard’s Old Fashioned is to a cocktail what a 5-hour Energy is to caffeinated beverages.
R&J Lounge & Supper Club
Maybe’s it’s because I feel extra Draper when I’m in R&J, but I have to hand it to them, because they know how to make a mean drink. Using crushed ice rather than the standard single large ice cube, this Old Fashioned is a bit fruitier, a bit untraditional, but a whole lot … well, good.
Junior’s
Junior’s is just in another dimension. This is a Cheers-level place, where the drinks keep flowing and the regulars are known by name. The first time I went there, I was roped into a 60-plus-year-old’s birthday party, forced to dance like the big nerd that I am, given free cake and, to my own detriment, free drinks. I can’t say I really remember the details of Junior’s Old Fashioneds — proof enough that they’re awesome.
Café 501
More than once I’ve suggested Café 501 for dinner just so I can order their Old Fashioned. Their cocktail is fairly traditional and tastes just as it should. Doused with a healthy dose of Luxardo cherry liqueur (plus an even healthier dose of Maker’s), this drink has a tinge of sweetness and a big kick.
The Barrel
I have no qualms calling myself a drink snob. The first time I went to The Barrel, I was hesitant to order my favorite drink since I didn’t know what to expect. Getting a bad Old Fashioned is basically the same as being tossed a Bud Light (dramatic, but true). But The Barrel’s version was small, unassuming, and potently perfect. And I had three, so there.
