Hoste Gold Fashioned 750ML

Hoste Gold Fashioned 750ML is a premium ready-to-drink Old Fashioned cocktail bottled at 42.2% ABV (84.4 proof) in a 750ml format. This expression earned a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and an A- rating from Drinkhacker, placing it at the top of the bottled cocktail category through its use of long-aged whiskeys and house-made saffron bitters.

Quick Facts: ABV: 42.2% (84.4 proof)  |  Origin: Bardstown, KY & Indiana, USA  |  Style: Premium Bottled Old Fashioned  |  Producer: Hoste Cocktails

Production & Heritage

The Gold Fashioned blends 9-year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey sourced from Bardstown, Kentucky, finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks, with 10-year and 6-year Indiana Straight Rye Whiskeys built on a 95/5 rye mashbill. The sherry cask finishing adds dried fruit depth to the bourbon component, while the high-rye whiskeys contribute backbone and spice. What truly sets this cocktail apart is its house-made saffron bitters — a proprietary blend of Afghan saffron, Tahitian vanilla, Ecuadorian cacao, French gentian, and Seville orange peel. Each bottle ships with an orange citrus zest atomizer, allowing the drinker to replicate a proper bar-quality garnish at the point of pour. Saffron, which is more expensive by weight than gold, is rarely found in cocktail bitters, making this formulation genuinely unusual in the spirits world.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich caramel and toffee dominate the nose immediately, followed by ripe stone fruits — peach and apricot come through clearly. A subtle warmth of cinnamon and nutmeg emerges underneath, lifted by bright orange zest from the atomizer.

Taste: The entry is lush with praline, vanilla custard, and honey, anchored by barrel char from the aged whiskey components. At mid-palate, demerara sweetness fills out the body while the saffron bitters introduce an exotic, slightly floral undertone. The texture is notably viscous and nutty, a quality attributed to the Oloroso sherry cask influence on the bourbon.

Finish: The finish leans sweet, with lingering vanilla, coffee, and oak tapering off slowly. There is an exquisite balance here — the rye spice and sherry-cask richness hold each other in check without either overwhelming the palate.

How to Drink the Gold Fashioned

Pour neat or over a single large ice cube into a rocks glass, then apply the included orange citrus zest atomizer across the surface for the intended aromatic experience. This cocktail is designed to be consumed as a complete Old Fashioned straight from the bottle, requiring no additional mixing. For those who enjoy experimentation: try it lightly chilled without ice to preserve the full viscosity and sweetness; serve it over smoked ice for added depth that amplifies the barrel char notes; or use a small measure as a float atop a stirred Manhattan variation to add saffron complexity to a classic template.

Best For

• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who appreciates aged, complex spirits
• Hosting a cocktail evening without a full bar setup
• Replacing a bartender-made Old Fashioned at a dinner party or holiday gathering
• Collecting or sampling award-winning bottled cocktails from small producers

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Gold Fashioned taste like? The Gold Fashioned delivers a rich profile of praline, vanilla custard, honey, and barrel char on the palate, with a sweet finish of vanilla, coffee, and oak. Stone fruit and warm baking spice from the sherry-finished bourbon and aged rye provide depth, while the saffron bitters add an exotic, subtly floral dimension.

How does the Gold Fashioned compare to other premium bottled Old Fashioneds? Most mass-market bottled Old Fashioneds rely on younger, unfinished whiskeys and conventional Angostura-style bitters, typically bottled between 30–37% ABV. The Gold Fashioned distinguishes itself with 9-year sherry-cask-finished bourbon, decade-old rye, house-made saffron bitters, and a notably higher 42.2% ABV that keeps it closer to a freshly stirred bar cocktail in strength and intensity.

Is the Gold Fashioned good for sipping neat? Yes — it is specifically designed to be poured and enjoyed immediately, neat or over one large ice cube, with no additional preparation beyond the included orange zest atomizer for garnish.

Where is the Gold Fashioned made? The Gold Fashioned is produced by Hoste Cocktails using 9-year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey from Bardstown, Kentucky, and 10-year and 6-year Indiana Straight Rye Whiskeys. The bourbon component is finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks before blending with the rye and house-made saffron bitters.

What foods pair well with the Gold Fashioned? Dark chocolate truffles complement the cacao and vanilla notes in the saffron bitters. Smoked brisket or barbecue ribs echo the barrel char and caramel sweetness. A charcuterie board with aged Gouda and candied pecans mirrors the nutty, toffee-forward palate. Crème brûlée works as a dessert pairing, matching the custard and demerara qualities. Dried apricots and almonds highlight the stone fruit aromatics from the sherry cask influence.

What sizes does the Gold Fashioned come in? The Hoste Gold Fashioned is available in a standard 750ml bottle, which includes an orange citrus zest atomizer for garnish.

Is the Gold Fashioned worth the price? The Gold Fashioned positions itself firmly in the ultra-premium bottled cocktail tier, justified by its use of long-aged whiskeys (up to 10 years), Oloroso Sherry Cask finishing, and rare saffron-based bitters sourced from multiple continents. Its Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and A- rating from Drinkhacker support its standing as one of the highest-regarded bottled Old Fashioneds currently available.

Why the Gold Fashioned?

The Double Gold medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition — one of the most competitive blind-tasting events in the industry — places this bottled cocktail in rare company. The combination of 9-year sherry-cask-finished bourbon and 95/5 rye whiskeys aged up to a decade gives the Gold Fashioned a whiskey foundation that many standalone bottles would envy, let alone a pre-mixed cocktail. The house-made saffron bitters, incorporating Afghan saffron among five globally sourced botanicals, represent a level of ingredient sourcing almost unheard of in the ready-to-drink space. For anyone who has dismissed bottled cocktails as a compromise, this expression directly challenges that assumption with verifiable age statements, serious proof, and genuine complexity.