It’s received rave reviews from critics and been featured in documentaries in its eight years, but this Culver City southern-inspired favorite also features a strong drink menu. Start with a Bourbon Peach Tea for two with dinner (featuring Elijah Craig small batch, lemon, basil, and amaretto), then retire to the Old Man, Hatchet Hall’s backroom watering hole, to order an Elijah Craig old fashioned and listen to a record or two while sitting by the fireplace. 

The slogan on the bar’s website could double as one for the old fashioned itself: “A bar born to remind us of what it means to get back to basics.” And while that might seem odd coming from an establishment that features a milk-washed aperitif and a red cabbage-infused pisco on its ingredients list, the West Los Angeles successor to the Liquid Kitty also does the traditional cocktails with a precision. Take their old fashioned, which features a Private Barrel selection of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof along with Demerara syrup and two types of bitters — one being walnut, which brings out the oak notes in the whiskey. 

This Santa Monica favorite is a visual stunner, with its exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and leather booths. But a pretty bar isn’t worth much without the cocktails to match, and the Chestnut Old Fashioned, with Elijah Craig, bitters, and sugar, is simple but excellently made. It’s a party atmosphere on Fridays and Saturdays, with live DJs late into the evenings, but the drinks are just as expertly made at midnight as they are at the bar’s open.

 In L.A. terms, few restaurants are more “classic” than this Beverly Hills oasis for feeding the movers and shakers. But while Wolfgang Puck’s first restaurant is best known for its pastas and other Italian favorites, don’t sleep on its bar program — whether you’re into complicated concoctions or a simple, satisfying, old fashioned with Elijah Craig. Dress up, enjoy a drink on the patio and take in the late-day sunshine: It’s not just for the A-listers or studio heads. 

What once was a banana warehouse has turned into a downtown stunner of a Latin-inspired restaurant, including a gorgeous patio on which to watch the sun set and enjoy some small plates. Tapas like empanadas and the charred octopus play nicely with the oaky, nutty elements of Elijah Craig, making the DAMA old fashioned a great move. The simple nature of the drink allows the character of the bourbon to shine through.

The Arts District needed a solid cocktail bar when ERB opened in 2015, and even as the area’s drinking options have expanded, the original still packs in a crowd, especially on weekends. A favorite for group gatherings thanks to its large back patio and picnic table seating, ERB does the basics so well, they seem premium: The burger here is the anti-gourmet’s choice, with nothing caramelized and no secret sauces, but is consistently considered one of the city’s best. Pair it with one of their featured options for Old Fashioned Week: The Newest Old Fashioned jettisons the drink’s simple syrup for a locally-made amaro, while the Stiff as a Board combines honey with an anise-flavored liqueur. Out with a group? Grab a picnic table on the back patio for plenty of room and fresh air. 

The Los Angeles-area mini-chain is a favorite in Pasadena thanks to both its menu and the views from its rooftop bar on Lake Avenue. The Gran Fashioned may be a little more complex than its traditional namesake, but with its mix of Elijah Craig, housemade cherry-vanilla bitters (alongside orange and clove versions), molasses, and port cherry, it still strikes the right balance of sweet and bitter. Grab one and sit at the upstairs bar: The view past the spirits and bartenders is of the San Gabriel Mountains to the north, and it’s stunning, especially in the winter.  

The longtime Culver City favorite came out of the pandemic with a new patio, complete with strings of hanging light bulbs, to complement its dimly lit, vibey interior. But the kitchen is still serving up its signature Korean-Mexican fusion menu from chef Roy Choi (Alibi was the first place to offer Kogi menu items at a sit-down establishment), and the bar continues to pour meticulously crafted cocktails, such as a classic Elijah Craig old fashioned.

This Westchester modern bistro is versatile. Travelers on a layover from the airport can sneak into its dark environs for a rendezvous with a dry-aged Delmonico steak, while students from the nearby college can grab one of the best cheap burgers in the area. (You’ll find that item during happy hour, and on Saturday night’s special “cocktail hour” from 9 p.m. until closing). Both parties, though, will want to sit at the bar, chat with one of the friendly bartenders, and grab an Elijah Craig old fashioned, poured over the bar’s hand-cut block ice.