Straightaway Oregon Old Fashioned 4Pk

Straightaway Oregon Old Fashioned 4Pk is a ready-to-drink Old Fashioned cocktail made with rye whiskey and housemade bitters, bottled at 40% ABV in a four-pack format. This Portland-born RTD earned a Silver Medal at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and a B+ from Drinkhacker, which noted that Straightaway "nailed" the ratio of bitters to sugar to spirit.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40% (80 proof)  |  Origin: Portland, Oregon  |  Style: Ready-to-Drink Old Fashioned  |  Producer: Straightaway Cocktails

Production & Heritage

Straightaway was founded in 2018 in Portland, Oregon, by Cy Cain and Casey Richwine with a focus on bottling bar-quality cocktails. The Oregon Old Fashioned combines rye whiskey with simple syrup and the brand's signature housemade bitters, built from filbert (hazelnut) and fir — two botanicals native to the Pacific Northwest. The bitters recipe draws inspiration from Milton-Freewater, Oregon, translating the region's forested landscape into a distinctly Northwestern take on one of cocktail history's oldest templates.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Toasted oak leads into warm rye spice, followed by a subtle waft of orange peel and earthy forest floor. A faint nuttiness from the filbert bitters lingers underneath.

Taste: The entry is clean rye grain with a measured sweetness from the simple syrup that never overwhelms. Mid-palate, woodsy bitterness arrives alongside hazelnut and fir notes, creating a layered, belly-warming quality. The balance between sweet, bitter, and spirit is precise and deliberate.

Finish: Long, fresh, and notably dry for a pre-mixed cocktail. Lingering oak tannins and a whisper of orange close things out cleanly.

How to Drink the Oregon Old Fashioned

Pour chilled over a single large ice cube or sphere and garnish with an expressed orange peel — no further mixing required. While it stands on its own as a complete cocktail, it also serves as a versatile base: add a few dashes of Angostura for a more traditional Old Fashioned profile, stir with a barspoon of cherry liqueur for a richer variation, or top with a splash of sparkling water for a lighter, effervescent long drink on warm evenings.

Best For

• Bringing a serious cocktail to outdoor gatherings where a full bar setup isn't practical
• Gifting a cocktail enthusiast who values convenience without sacrificing quality
• Stocking a home bar with a reliable, no-prep Old Fashioned for weeknight sipping
• Hosting dinner parties where individual pre-portioned cocktails simplify service

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Oregon Old Fashioned taste like? It delivers toasted oak, rye spice, and a measured sweetness balanced by woodsy, nutty bitterness from housemade filbert and fir bitters. The finish is notably long, fresh, and dry.

How does the Oregon Old Fashioned compare to High West Old Fashioned Barrel Finished? High West's version is a 43% ABV blend of bourbon and rye with bitters finished in second-fill rye barrels, producing a rounder, barrel-influenced character. Straightaway's expression is lighter in body and leans into Pacific Northwest botanicals — filbert and fir — for its bitterness rather than barrel finishing.

Is the Oregon Old Fashioned good for sipping neat? Yes — at 40% ABV with a carefully calibrated bitters-to-sugar-to-spirit ratio, it drinks like a well-made bar Old Fashioned straight from the bottle, especially when poured over a single large ice cube.

Where is the Oregon Old Fashioned made? It is produced by Straightaway Cocktails in Portland, Oregon, a company founded in 2018 that specializes in ready-to-drink bottled cocktails using locally inspired ingredients.

What foods pair well with the Oregon Old Fashioned? Smoked brisket or pulled pork complements the rye backbone; sharp aged cheddar plays off the woodsy bitters; dark chocolate with sea salt echoes the sweetness and oak tannins; grilled stone fruit like peaches bridges the orange and nutty notes; and charcuterie with whole-grain mustard aligns with the dry, spiced finish.

What sizes does the Oregon Old Fashioned come in? It is sold as a four-pack of individual bottles, designed for single-serve convenience.

Is the Oregon Old Fashioned worth the price? It positions as a premium ready-to-drink cocktail, justified by its 40% ABV (higher than many RTD competitors), housemade bitters, and multiple competition medals including a Silver at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Why the Oregon Old Fashioned?

Most bottled Old Fashioneds rely on standard aromatic bitters and generic sweeteners, but Straightaway built theirs around a bitters recipe rooted in Oregon's own terroir — filbert and fir. That distinction earned it a Silver Medal at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, a Silver at the Sunset International Spirits Competition, and recognition from Bartender Spirits Awards. At a full 40% ABV, it avoids the diluted, overly sweet profile that plagues much of the RTD category, delivering a drink that tastes like it came from behind a serious cocktail bar rather than off a production line.