Goose Island Barrel House Old Fashioned Highball 4Pk

Goose Island Barrel House Old Fashioned Highball 4Pk is a ready-to-drink carbonated cocktail at 9% ABV that merges classic Old Fashioned flavors with a sparkling highball format. Built on MGP-sourced three-year-old bourbon, cane sugar, bitters, and hints of orange and cherry, this 4-pack bridges the gap between a serious whiskey cocktail and a light, sessionable serve.

Quick Facts: ABV: 9%  |  Origin: Illinois, United States  |  Style: Ready-to-Drink Bourbon Highball  |  Brand: Goose Island (AB InBev)  |  Bourbon Source: MGP Distillery

Production & Heritage

Goose Island was founded in 1988 by John Hall on Chicago's Clybourn Avenue and became part of Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2011. The brewery's Barrel House program earned its reputation through barrel-aged beers like Bourbon County Brand Stout, and this RTD line extends that barrel-aging ethos into the cocktail space. The Old Fashioned Highball uses bourbon distilled at MGP Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana — aged a minimum of three years — blended with cane sugar, aromatic bitters, and natural orange and cherry flavoring, then carbonated to give it a bubbly, highball-style lift that separates it from a standard canned Old Fashioned.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a pronounced cherry sweetness followed by bright, zesty orange peel. Underneath those fruit-forward notes sits a faint whisper of bourbon warmth and bitters spice.

Taste: On the palate, the carbonation keeps things light and refreshing rather than spirit-heavy. Cherry and orange lead into a soft sweetness from the cane sugar, while the three-year bourbon contributes a subtle rye-leaning spice at mid-palate. The 9% ABV provides enough backbone to remind you this is a real cocktail, not a flavored seltzer.

Finish: The finish is moderate in length with a mildly bitter, citrus-pith note that recalls Angostura bitters. A faint acrid edge surfaces at the tail end, lending a somewhat dry close.

How to Drink the Barrel House Old Fashioned Highball

This RTD is designed to be served straight from the can over ice or poured into a rocks glass with a single large ice cube to slow dilution and keep the carbonation intact. A fresh orange twist expressed over the top amplifies the existing citrus character. While it is a complete cocktail on its own, it also works as a base component in longer drinks:

• Whiskey Spritz: Pour over ice with a splash of club soda and a lemon wheel for an even lighter, more effervescent warm-weather drink.
• Cherry Cobbler Riff: Add a dash of cherry liqueur and fresh lemon juice to lean into the existing cherry notes and create a tart, fruit-forward variation.
• Highball Punch: Combine multiple cans with fresh orange juice, a few dashes of aromatic bitters, and sliced stone fruit for a simple, crowd-ready punch bowl.

Best For

• Backyard barbecues or tailgates where mixing full cocktails is impractical
• Introducing bourbon-curious friends to Old Fashioned flavors in a low-commitment format
• Stocking a cooler for camping, boating, or outdoor festivals
• Hosting a casual tasting night comparing RTD cocktails side by side

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Barrel House Old Fashioned Highball taste like? It delivers cherry, orange, and light bourbon spice in a carbonated, moderately sweet package at 9% ABV. The overall impression is a lighter, bubblier take on a classic Old Fashioned rather than a full-strength stirred cocktail.

How does the Barrel House Old Fashioned Highball compare to the Jim Beam Classic Highball? Both are canned whiskey-based RTDs, but the Goose Island expression leans into traditional Old Fashioned ingredients — bitters, cane sugar, orange, and cherry — while the Jim Beam Classic Highball focuses on a simpler whiskey-and-soda profile. The Goose Island version also sits at 9% ABV, giving it a somewhat bolder presence than many mainstream canned highballs.

Is the Barrel House Old Fashioned Highball good for cocktail beginners? Yes — the carbonation and lower ABV relative to a bar-made Old Fashioned make it approachable, while the bourbon and bitters keep it grounded in recognizable cocktail flavors rather than tasting like a flavored malt beverage.

Where is the Barrel House Old Fashioned Highball made? It is produced under the Goose Island brand based in Chicago, Illinois, using bourbon sourced from MGP Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana — one of the most prolific bourbon and rye distilleries in the United States.

What foods pair well with the Barrel House Old Fashioned Highball? Smoked brisket or pulled pork, where the carbonation cuts through fatty richness. Dark chocolate brownies complement the cherry and bitters notes. Sharp cheddar cheese plays off the bourbon spice. Glazed pecans or candied walnuts echo the cane sugar sweetness. Grilled peaches or stone fruit desserts mirror the orange and cherry aromatics.

What sizes does the Barrel House Old Fashioned Highball come in? The standard retail format is a 4-pack of cans, which is the primary size available for this product.

Is the Barrel House Old Fashioned Highball worth the price? It positions as a mid-tier RTD cocktail — priced above basic canned highballs but justified by its use of aged MGP bourbon and a more complex flavor profile than many mass-market competitors. For consumers who want a genuine Old Fashioned experience without bartending, it represents solid value within the growing premium RTD category.

Why the Barrel House Old Fashioned Highball?

The defining move here is the marriage of two distinct cocktail traditions: the richness of an Old Fashioned with the effervescence of a Japanese-influenced highball. Using three-year MGP bourbon rather than a younger, less defined spirit gives the drink a legitimate whiskey backbone that most RTDs in this price tier lack. Goose Island's Barrel House program has spent over a decade refining how barrel character translates to finished beverages, and that expertise shows in the balance between sweetness, bitters, and carbonation. For anyone who wants Old Fashioned flavor in a portable, no-tools-required format, this 4-pack fills a niche that few competitors address as directly.