Oaxaca Old Fashioned Mezcal Cocktail Recipe

A Oaxacan Old Fashioned (or Oaxaca Old Fashioned) is a riff on the classic Old Fashioned cocktail. The Oaxacan version has reposado tequila and mezcal instead of whiskey, as in the original and classic cocktail. This Mexican-inspired twist on the Old Fashioned originated at an East Village bar in New York City. Jump to recipe.

Learn about the four essential Oaxaca Old Fashioned ingredients below.

1. 1. Agave nectar: To add a bit of sweetness to a Oaxaca Old Fashioned, add about a bar spoon of agave nectar or agave syrup. Agave is a popular sweetener in tequila cocktails because tequila comes from the agave plant. Simple syrup is a good substitute for agave.
2. 2. Bitters: To give a Oaxaca Old Fashioned a spicy, spiced, and slightly bitter taste, add bitters. Angostura bitters are the most common in cocktails, but there are many varieties with different flavor notes, including chocolate bitters and mole bitters.
   
3. 3. Mezcal: A smoky cousin of tequila, mezcal comes from the maguey plant, which is a type of agave plant. The smoky flavor comes from cooking the agave plants in underground pits for about twenty-four hours.
4. 4. Tequila: The preferred tequila for a Oaxacan Old Fashioned is reposado tequila, an aged tequila. It has flavors of oak, vanilla, and spices from the aging process and adds all of those flavors to the cocktail.

Use the three tips below for making a riff on the classic Old Fashioned cocktail.

1. 1. Build the drink in the glass. Many cocktails use a shaker to combine the ingredients, but for a Oaxaca Old Fashioned, add all of the ingredients to a rocks glass, also known as an Old Fashioned glass, or another mixing glass. Stir it with the ice until the drink is chilled.
2. 2. Light the orange peel on fire. An orange peel is a classic garnish for an Old Fashioned, but to mimic the smoky flavor of the mezcal, squeeze the orange peel, then light it on fire. The fire brings out the orange peel’s essential oils and natural aromas.
3. 3. Switch up the bitters. While Angostura bitters are traditional to an Old Fashioned, since the Oaxaca Old Fashioned is already a riff of the original, play around with the bitters. To keep with the Mexican theme, use chocolate or mole bitters.