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BARTENDER.MX
Oaxaca Old Fashioned
Method
Stirred
Glassware
Rocks glass
Ice
Large cube
Time
3 min

Oaxaca Old Fashioned

Modern classicTequilaMexican cocktailsIntermediateEditorial draft

An agave Old Fashioned: reposado as the base and a touch of mezcal for smoke. It opened the door for mezcal in international bars.

Created by Phil Ward

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Ingredients

1 × servings

Volume before dilution: 65 ml

Step by step

  1. 1

    Stir the tequila, mezcal, agave and bitters with ice for about 30 seconds.

  2. 2

    Strain over a large cube in a rocks glass.

  3. 3

    Flame the orange peel over the drink with a match and drop it in.

GarnishFlamed orange peel

Flavor profile

Sweetness
Acidity
Bitterness
Body
Aroma
Smoke
Cooked agaveGentle smokeOrange

Story

Phil Ward created it at Death & Co in New York in 2007. Its success helped mezcal stop being a curiosity on bar menus outside Mexico.

Technical notes

A small dose of mezcal works as an aromatic. Flaming the peel caramelizes its oils for a toasty note; keep the flame clear of the glass and anything flammable.

Serving

For slow sipping.

Origin

Attributed · 2007 · Death & Co, New York, USA

Created by Phil Ward at Death & Co.

Variations

  • Con mole bitters

    Swap Angostura for mole or chocolate bitters.

Substitutions

  • Piloncillo syrup instead of agave.

Pairings

  • Oaxacan mole negro
  • Stone-ground chocolate

Techniques

Fat washing

Fat Washing

A spirit is mixed with liquid fat (brown butter, pork fat from chicharrón, coconut oil) to pick up its aromas; it's then frozen and the fat removed.

Intermediate · 5 min read

Smoke & aromatics

Smoking and Aromatics

Smoke and atomized aromas change what we perceive before the first sip. Used well they add depth; overdone, they turn acrid and dominate.

Intermediate · 5 min read

Ice

Clear Ice and Carving

Directional freezing produces transparent ice blocks that can be carved into spheres, cubes and spears. They look better, melt slower and dilute predictably.

Intermediate · 6 min read

Where to drink it

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Sources

Version 1 · Updated October 20, 2026