Oaxaca Old Fashioned — Mezcal bartenders finally got permission to mess with

Mezcal bartenders finally got permission to mess with the Old Fashioned — and everyone agreed it worked.

Ingredients

• 1 oz mezcal
• 1 oz reposado tequila
• 1 oz agave nectar syrup
• 2 dash chocolate bitters
• Garnish: an orange peel

Method

Grab your mixing glass and add the mezcal and reposado tequila first. The split base is what makes this drink special — mezcal brings the smoke, tequila brings the smoothness. Add your agave syrup and chocolate bitters. The chocolate bitters are crucial here — they bridge the earthy agave flavors with something rich and almost dessert-like. Fill with ice and stir for thirty seconds until the mixing glass is cold enough that it frosts up in your hand. You want proper dilution to mellow out that mezcal intensity. Double strain over one large ice cube in a rocks glass.

Serve

Serve this in a short rocks glass over one large cube. Express an orange peel over the drink — squeeze it so the oils spray across the surface — then drop it in. The citrus oils cut through the smoke and add brightness.

Pro Tip

If you can’t find chocolate bitters, regular Angostura works, but you lose some of the magic. The chocolate element is what makes bartenders fall in love with this drink. Also, don’t skip the reposado tequila and go all mezcal — you need that tequila to smooth out the rough edges and add caramel sweetness. The split base isn’t just showing off, it’s structurally important.