Best Vodka For An Artisan Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned is one of the most iconic cocktails ever poured. It's simple, it's bold, and it demands a base spirit that can hold its own. Traditionally that's whiskey. But the vodka old fashioned? That's a modern remix worth knowing — especially when you build it with the right bottle.

Here's everything you need to choose the best vodka for an artisan old fashioned and pour one you'll actually be proud of.

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What to Look For

Not every vodka belongs in an old fashioned. The drink is stripped back — spirit, sweetener, bitters, citrus peel. There's nowhere to hide.

You need a vodka with character and clarity. One that's smooth enough to sip slowly but has enough body to stand up to bitters. Avoid anything harsh, boozy, or thin. The texture matters as much as the taste.

Key things to look for:

• Multiple distillations — more passes through the still mean a cleaner, rounder spirit
• Small-batch production — craft vodkas tend to have more nuance than mass-market pours
• 80 proof — the sweet spot for a cocktail that's spirited without being aggressive
• Filtration — charcoal filtration removes impurities and adds silkiness

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Why the Right Base Matters

An old fashioned amplifies its base spirit. Bourbon drinkers know this. Every flaw shows up. Every virtue shines through.

With vodka, the challenge is intentional: you're building complexity from a near-neutral spirit. That means the vodka's texture, distillation quality, and finish do the heavy lifting. A thin, mass-produced vodka gives you a flat, forgettable drink. A well-crafted small-batch vodka gives you something that actually sings alongside the bitters and demerara.

This is a cocktail that rewards patience. Choose your spirit accordingly.

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Our Pick & How to Use It

Touch Artisan Vodka is our answer to this cocktail.

Handcrafted in Tampa, Florida since 2012, Touch Artisan is a small-batch, 10x distilled vodka built for moments exactly like this. It's 80 proof — balanced, not punishing. The extra distillations give it a polished smoothness that doesn't sacrifice character. It sits beautifully in a rocks glass without fighting the bitters or overpowering the orange peel.

It's called Artisan for a reason. It was made to be mixed with intention.

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Make It at Home

Here's how to build a proper Artisan Old Fashioned:

The Artisan Old Fashioned

• 2 oz Touch Artisan Vodka
• 1 tsp demerara syrup (or simple syrup)
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 dash orange bitters
• Orange peel, for garnish
• Large ice cube

Method:

1. Add syrup and both bitters to a rocks glass.
2. Add the large ice cube.
3. Pour Touch Artisan Vodka directly over the ice.
4. Stir gently — about 20 rotations — to chill and dilute.
5. Express the orange peel over the glass, run it around the rim, then drop it in.
6. Sip slowly. This one's worth it.

No shaking. No soda. Just craft.

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What's the Best Alcohol for an Old Fashioned?

Traditionally, bourbon or rye whiskey. The sweetness of bourbon and the spice of rye both complement the bitters and sugar beautifully.

But vodka old fashioneds have carved out their own lane. They're cleaner, slightly lighter in flavor, and let the bitters do more of the talking. If you want a smoother, more neutral-forward old fashioned that still has depth, a quality craft vodka is a legitimate — and delicious — choice.

The key in either case? Use a spirit worth drinking neat.

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What Are the Top 3 Best Vodkas?

We'll be honest — "best" is personal. But here's what we know separates great vodkas from the shelf-filler:

1. Small-batch, craft production — made with care, not scale
2. Multiple distillations — Touch Vodka's 10x distillation is at the top of the craft tier
3. Intentional flavor or exceptional purity — whether it's the clean finish of Touch One (also charcoal filtered) or the character of Touch Artisan, purpose matters

Touch Vodka's full lineup — One, Artisan, Key Lime, Ruby, and Orange — represents five distinct takes on what a premium Florida-made vodka can be. Explore them all on our Cocktails page, where every expression has a recipe built around it.

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What Does "Artisan Vodka" Mean?

Great question. The word gets thrown around loosely. Here's what it actually means when it matters:

Artisan vodka is produced in small batches with a focus on craft and quality over mass output. It typically involves:

• Hands-on production at every stage
• Careful selection of ingredients and distillation method
• Higher distillation counts to achieve purity without sterility
• A distinct identity — not just "clean," but crafted

Touch Artisan Vodka lives up to the name. Made in Tampa in small batches, distilled 10 times, and bottled at 80 proof, it's the result of craft that started in 2012 and hasn't cut corners since.

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The Artisan Old Fashioned isn't a gimmick. It's a cocktail for people who take their glass seriously. Start with the right vodka, and the rest is easy.

Please drink responsibly. Must be 21+ to purchase and consume Touch Vodka.

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Ready to mix? Get Cocktails and explore the full lineup of Touch Vodka recipes made for every occasion.