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Mezcal Old Fashioned

The mezcal old fashioned takes a classic cocktail and transforms it with agave spirit's distinctive char and complexity. This sophisticated drink delivers bold smokiness, sweetness, and citrus in perfect harmony, coming together in under five minutes with just four ingredients.
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Prep Time 2 minutes
Total Time 2 minutes
Servings: 1 cocktail
Course: Drinks and Beverages
Cuisine: Mexican-inspired
Calories: 150
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main
  • 2 ounces mezcal preferably a reposado or joven style
  • 1 sugar cube or 0.5 ounce simple syrup
  • 2 to 3 dashes Angostura bitters
  • Splash of water about 0.25 ounce
  • Large ice cube or several regular ice cubes
  • Orange peel for garnish
  • Optional: cherry for garnish

Equipment

  • Rocks glass or old fashioned glass
  • Measuring jigger (1.5 oz and 0.5 oz measures)
  • bar spoon or regular spoon for stirring
  • Cocktail picks or small fork
  • Cutting board and sharp knife for citrus
  • Ice cube tray or access to quality ice

Method
 

  1. Place your rocks glass in the freezer for at least 2 minutes while you gather ingredients.
  2. Drop the sugar cube into the chilled glass at the bottom.
  3. Pour 2 to 3 dashes of Angostura bitters directly onto the sugar cube.
  4. Pour about 0.25 ounce of water (roughly one tablespoon) into the glass.
  5. Use a bar spoon or the back of a regular spoon to gently press and stir the sugar cube and bitters together for 10 to 15 seconds until it breaks down into a sweet, aromatic paste.
  6. Add a large ice cube or fill the glass halfway with regular ice cubes.
  7. Measure out 2 ounces of mezcal and pour it slowly over the ice into your glass.
  8. Stir the drink gently for about 30 seconds to marry all the ingredients and chill everything further.
  9. Express the oils from an orange peel over the drink by holding it skin-side down and squeezing it slightly to release the citrus oils. Drop the peel into the glass as a garnish, and optionally add a cherry.

Notes

Use a single large ice cube instead of multiple small ones for slower melting. Buy quality mezcal from a trusted producer since the spirit is the star. Sip slowly and notice how the drink changes as the ice melts. Experiment with different mezcal styles: joven brings raw, grassy smoke, while reposado adds subtle oak and vanillin sweetness.