Head to head
Benton’s Old Fashioned and Sazerac side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.
The difference, by the numbers
They have no ingredient in common: the Benton’s Old Fashioned has bourbon, maple syrup and Angostura bitters, the Sazerac Cognac, absinthe, sugar and Peychaud’s bitters. In parts, a Benton’s Old Fashioned is 8 whiskey and 1 maple syrup; a Sazerac is 8 brandy and 1 sugar. By volume, the Benton’s Old Fashioned is 89% spirit and 11% syrup and sugar; the Sazerac is 87% spirit and 11% syrup and sugar. Different bottles, similar balance: that makes them close cousins on the ratio map.
The Benton’s Old Fashioned is the stronger drink in the glass (26.0% ABV against 25.2%) and holds more alcohol (1.56 standard drinks against 1.19). The Benton’s Old Fashioned has more calories (about 179 against 132) and more sugar (6.0 g against 4.0 g). Both are stirred and served in a rocks glass.
Old Fashioneds & Duos · Whiskey
The ratio · 8 : 1
Full Benton’s Old Fashioned recipe →
Highlighted: not in the Sazerac.
Old Fashioneds & Duos · Brandy
The ratio · 8 : 1
Highlighted: not in the Benton’s Old Fashioned.
Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.
Benton’s Old Fashioned vs.
Sazerac vs.