The Story Behind The Oaxaca Old Fashioned
A little smoky and a little sweet, the Oaxaca Old Fashioned is a darling of the cocktail renaissance that helped solidify agave spirits as a mainstay of modern cocktail culture.
This riff on the world’s most popular cocktail was first created in 2007 by Phil Ward at Death & Co., an iconic bar in NYC’s East Village. Following the formula of many Death & Co. favorites, Ward used the composition of a classic, tried and true cocktail, but tweaked it to highlight new and interesting spirits. In his final version, Ward brilliantly combined both reposado tequila and mezcal, imparting a rounder and more balanced finish to this potent drink.
Fans of the cocktail have over the years created their own variations with mole and chocolate bitters, but we like how the Angostura bitters keep the drink rooted in its pre-Prohibition inspiration.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 ounces tequila
- 1/2 ounce mezcal
- 1/4 ounce agave nectar
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Garnish: orange twist
Directions
- Combine tequila, mezcal, agave, and bitters in a rocks glass and stir.
- Add ice, then garnish with orange twist.
Recipe Rating
