Handy & Schiller Barreled Old Fashioned Cocktail

Product Description

Handy & Schiller Barreled Old Fashioned: 96 Points and Ready to Pour

New Orleans is widely regarded as the birthplace of American cocktails, and Handy & Schiller honors two of the men who shaped that legacy: Thomas Handy, a Maryland native, and John Schiller, a New York bartender who found his way to New Orleans and, by 1860, was operating the world-famous Sazerac Coffeehouse in the French Quarter. Handy worked for Schiller at the coffeehouse before going on to establish a successful importing and wholesale liquor business, and together their influence on New Orleans' early cocktail culture continues to inspire drinks more than 150 years later.

The Handy & Schiller Barreled Old Fashioned is made using the distillery's flagship Buffalo Trace Bourbon and classic Peychaud's Bitters, combined with sugar to recreate a true Old Fashioned build, then aged as a complete mixture in charred American oak barrels within Buffalo Trace's own warehouses. That barrel-aging of the finished cocktail, rather than simply bottling whiskey with flavoring added, allows the bourbon, bitters, sweetness, and oak to fully integrate, producing a depth of flavor that distinguishes it from conventional ready-to-drink offerings.

That quality has earned serious recognition: the Beverage Tasting Institute awarded it 96 points and named it Best Barrel Aged RTD in 2018, and it also took home a Double Gold medal from The Fifty Best competition, credentials that place it at the top of the entire ready-to-drink cocktail category. Ready to pour straight from the bottle, it delivers a consistent, bartender-quality Old Fashioned without the shaker, the measuring, or the cleanup.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Orange zest and toasted sugar, followed by charred oak, vanilla, and gentle baking spice.

Palate: Smooth and slightly sweet, moving into a rich mid-palate of caramel, clove, brown sugar, and orange peel.

Finish: Medium to long, with lingering vanilla and charred oak, closing on a creamy note of citrus fruit and balanced bourbon character.

Food Pairings

Handy & Schiller Barreled Old Fashioned's caramel and orange peel profile pairs beautifully with classic Southern fare. Try it alongside smoked brisket, aged cheddar, or a charcuterie board with dried orange and toasted nuts.

Serving Suggestions

Serve Handy & Schiller Barreled Old Fashioned over a large ice cube in a rocks glass, garnished with an orange peel twist, exactly as intended, no additional ingredients or mixing required.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes this a "barreled" Old Fashioned? Unlike most bottled cocktails that are simply blended, this Old Fashioned is aged as a complete mixture in charred American oak barrels at Buffalo Trace Distillery, allowing the bourbon, bitters, and sweetness to fully integrate and develop genuine oak and vanilla character.

Has this cocktail won any awards? Yes. It earned 96 points and Best Barrel Aged RTD honors from the Beverage Tasting Institute in 2018, along with a Double Gold medal from The Fifty Best competition.

Do I need to mix anything? No. Simply pour over ice, garnish with an orange peel, and enjoy.

What is the alcohol content? 42% ABV (84 proof).

Where is this cocktail made? At the historic Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky.

How should I serve it? Over a large ice cube in a rocks glass, garnished with an orange peel twist.

Explore More

Craving more grab-and-pour options? Shop our full RTD collection for more bar-quality, ready-to-drink cocktails you can chill and pour in seconds.

Looking for more from Buffalo Trace? Shop our full Buffalo Trace collection for more bourbons and spirits from this legendary Frankfort, Kentucky distillery.

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