The Tequila Old Fashioned is a Southwestern-styled version of the classic cocktail.
The double doors to the saloon swung open. Dust flew off of their surface as they hit the walls on either side of the entryway. Nothing much extra spilled in, sunlight-wise, since the doors weren’t doing much anyway, and were mostly decoration. But the long shadow that crept up and blocked some of those rays… well now, that turned a few heads.
The cowboy was tall and covered head to toe in some very fancy finery. Instead of a ten-gallon hat, they wore a pristine fedora. And no duster was on their back either, but instead a slick trench coat was draped over a broad set of shoulders, covering a slightly weathered but still pressed pinstripe double-breasted suit. Royal blue, too. A strange sight in this cactus-riddled landscape, no doubt.
They strode silently and gracefully up to the bar and requested “an Old Fashioned, but one from ’round these parts.” The sauce-slinger behind it was an old-timer who had seen a thing or two, so the request was right up their alley. A squint of one eye, followed by a knowing nod, had the stranger tipping that fancy fedora back in thanks. Moments later, a rocks glass slid their way.
It took mere seconds for the dapper and dusty dandy to down their drink. Smacking their lips and smiling, they turned and left, leaving a fat roll of cash behind them. And soon, as they traveled farther out around the globe, they would lament that no tipple quelled their cocktail cravings quite like the Tequila Old Fashioned they once had, long ago.
Where was this place, people would ask? The stranger could never remember…
What is the best tequila to use in a Tequila Old Fashioned?
We’re going for a full-bodied and robust sipping experience when we craft tonight’s cocktail. As the classic Old Fashioned features a golden brown bourbon or rye whiskey as the spirit base, let’s go with an aged tequila for this version. A reposado will have a mellow agave taste due to the aging process, as well as notes of vanilla, caramel and oak. Añejo tequila is also a great choice, as it is aged for much longer and will have a richer, more complex flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons agave nectar
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 2 ounces reposado tequila
- 1 slice orange and a maraschino cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In an Old Fashioned glass, add the agave nectar and the Angostura bitters. Muddle until well combined.
- Add tequila and a cocktail ice cube and stir until well-mixed, usually about 30 seconds.
- Garnish your Tequila Old Fashioned with a slice of orange and maraschino cherry.
Nutrition
What glassware and garnish are used?
A rocks or Old Fashioned glass is the best way to enjoy this drink. Fill with ice or a large cocktail cube, and garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry on top.
What other bitters can be used?
If you’d like more citrus notes in your drink, you can use orange bitters instead of the traditional Angostura. Other flavored bitters, like chocolate or cherry, can give your beverage a pleasant and subtle change.
Other Old Fashioned variations worth trying
If you’ve been around as long as the Old Fashioned cocktail, and you were just as popular, you’d probably have a fair amount of inspired takes and different-styled versions of you, too. Which you might find odd, but the Old Fashioned is more than used to the adulation at this point. If you’d like an inspired drink this evening, try out one or two of these.
- Smoked Old Fashioned – You can tell a story or two while sipping on this atmospheric elixir.
- Brandy Old Fashioned – Try your hand at mixing up this Wisconsin favorite.
- Rum Old Fashioned – Take your taste buds to the tropics with this rum-based concoction.
- Gin-Campari Old Fashioned – A biting and unforgettable evening cocktail.
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