Oaxacan Old Fashioned

The Oaxacan Old Fashioned has a smoky, earthy, citrusy, sweet, complex flavor profile. A smoky, sophisticated twist on the classic Old Fashioned that replaces whiskey with mezcal and incorporates agave nectar for sweetness. This modern Mexican interpretation brings earthy, complex flavors with a beautiful balance of smoke and spice.

A Oaxacan Old Fashioned requires 4 ingredients: Mezcal, Agave Nectar, Orange Bitters, Orange Peel.

A Oaxacan Old Fashioned takes about 3 minutes to prepare and is considered easy difficulty.

A Oaxacan Old Fashioned is traditionally served in a rocks, garnished with Orange peel, expressed and dropped in.

Yes, you can make a mocktail version of the Oaxacan Old Fashioned by substituting the spirits with non-alcoholic alternatives such as seedlip, non-alcoholic distilled spirits, or flavored syrups and juices that mimic the original flavor profile.

The Oaxacan Old Fashioned emerged from the craft cocktail renaissance of the 2000s, when bartenders began experimenting with mezcal as a substitute for traditional spirits in classic cocktails. While the exact creator is debated, it gained prominence through influential bars like Death & Co in New York City, where mixologists championed the idea that mezcal's complexity could elevate familiar cocktail structures. The drink pays homage to both American cocktail tradition and Mexican mezcal heritage, representing the growing appreciation for artisanal agave spirits beyond tequila. Oaxaca, the spiritual home of mezcal production, lends its name to this creation, as most premium mezcals originate from this southern Mexican state. The cocktail's popularity exploded as mezcal became more widely available in the United States, and bartenders discovered that its smoky, earthy notes paired beautifully with the Old Fashioned's simple template. Today, it's considered a modern classic and often serves as an introduction to mezcal for whiskey drinkers.