Uploaded January 2017 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
This modern drink is an agave spirit remix of a classic Old Fashioned and is made with Reposado Tequila, smoky Mezcal, Agave Nectar, Aromatic Bitters and a flamed Orange Twist. It's not the same thing as a Tequila Old Fashioned. The seemingly subtle change of addition of Mezcal and flamed Orange peel really elevates this one.
The drink was created in 2007 by Phil Ward, New York-area bartender who was formerly the bar manager of Death & Co. and is now co-owner of Mayahuel. Ward was and is obsessed with Mezcals (which includes Tequilas) and all-things agave. This led him to take a Tequila Old Fashioned to the next level.
in the mid-2000's Mezcal was not as ubiquitous on the cocktail scene as is it now, at least not in the US. So, at the time, this was a great first introduction to the spirit. A title belt it's been able to hold on to over the past decade.
The drink benefits from using a smoky Mezcal. There are certainly non-smoky or barely-smoky Mezcals out there. Those don't work as well in this one. The smokiness lends a depth to the profile that Tequila alone or Mezcal Sin Humo can't provide. The El Silencio Espadín is good, smoky and extremely affordable for a Mezcal. So, it's my go-to for this drink. As always, feel free to use your favorite bottle, but just make sure it's smoky.
For the Tequila, it's important that it be a Reposado and not a Blanco. The Reposado is aged longer than the Blanco and has a softer, richer flavor profile. The Cimarrón, too, is a cheap and great option. It's kind of a dark horse in the Tequila game. I recommend it, but feel free to use your favorite Reposado.
Some bartenders like to roll their eyes at a request for a flamed Orange Peel because it's so showy and it doesn't always work to the best effect (it gets lost in the flavor or the caramelized oils are in conflict with the drink or possibly it's done wrong where it tastes burnt). But it works wonders in this drink. The caramelized oils give the drink another dimension that you don't get with fresh oils.
This drink is definitely spirit-forward, but it really serves to highlight and showcase these agave spirits. It brings the best out of them. Even if you've been burned in the past by Tequila because you had a traumatizing night in college slamming Cuervo at that pledge-week party, this will make you a born-again believer in the full, complex and enjoyable flavor of these spirits. ¡Salud!
Recipe:
1.5 oz Reposado Tequila
0.5 oz Mezcal
1 tsp Agave Nectar
2 dashes Aromatic Bitters
flamed Orange twist
Stir with ice. Strain into rocks glass. Garnish with flamed Orange twist.
Music:
Furia Diabolico by Auracle
via JinglePunks
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This modern drink is an agave spirit remix of a classic Old Fashioned and is made with Reposado Tequila, smoky Mezcal, Agave Nectar, Aromatic Bitters and a flamed Orange Twist. It's not the same thing as a Tequila Old Fashioned. The seemingly subtle change of addition of Mezcal and flamed Orange peel really elevates this one.
The drink was created in 2007 by Phil Ward, New York-area bartender who was formerly the bar manager of Death & Co. and is now co-owner of Mayahuel. Ward was and is obsessed with Mezcals (which includes Tequilas) and all-things agave. This led him to take a Tequila Old Fashioned to the next level.
in the mid-2000's Mezcal was not as ubiquitous on the cocktail scene as is it now, at least not in the US. So, at the time, this was a great first introduction to the spirit. A title belt it's been able to hold on to over the past decade.
The drink benefits from using a smoky Mezcal. There are certainly non-smoky or barely-smoky Mezcals out there. Those don't work as well in this one. The smokiness lends a depth to the profile that Tequila alone or Mezcal Sin Humo can't provide. The El Silencio Espadín is good, smoky and extremely affordable for a Mezcal. So, it's my go-to for this drink. As always, feel free to use your favorite bottle, but just make sure it's smoky.
For the Tequila, it's important that it be a Reposado and not a Blanco. The Reposado is aged longer than the Blanco and has a softer, richer flavor profile. The Cimarrón, too, is a cheap and great option. It's kind of a dark horse in the Tequila game. I recommend it, but feel free to use your favorite Reposado.
Some bartenders like to roll their eyes at a request for a flamed Orange Peel because it's so showy and it doesn't always work to the best effect (it gets lost in the flavor or the caramelized oils are in conflict with the drink or possibly it's done wrong where it tastes burnt). But it works wonders in this drink. The caramelized oils give the drink another dimension that you don't get with fresh oils.
This drink is definitely spirit-forward, but it really serves to highlight and showcase these agave spirits. It brings the best out of them. Even if you've been burned in the past by Tequila because you had a traumatizing night in college slamming Cuervo at that pledge-week party, this will make you a born-again believer in the full, complex and enjoyable flavor of these spirits. ¡Salud!
Recipe:
1.5 oz Reposado Tequila
0.5 oz Mezcal
1 tsp Agave Nectar
2 dashes Aromatic Bitters
flamed Orange twist
Stir with ice. Strain into rocks glass. Garnish with flamed Orange twist.
Music:
Furia Diabolico by Auracle
via JinglePunks
Follow Us!
facebook.com/DistinguishedSpirits
instagram.com/distinguishedspirits
twitter.com/DistinguishedSp
pinterest.com/DistinguishedSp
