This tequila old fashioned swaps bourbon for a smooth añejo tequila, and trades simple syrup for agave, since tequila and agave come from the very same plant. The result tastes like the drink was built around tequila from the start, not adapted to fit it.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you'll join our email list and can unsubscribe at any time.
Why This One Works
Añejo tequila is aged in oak for one to three years, so it already carries vanilla and caramel before you add anything else, and agave syrup sweetens it without masking that flavor since both come from the same plant. Most tequila old fashioneds turn out unbalanced: tequila-forward in the first sip, syrupy by the last, when the agave doesn't fully mix in. Thirty seconds of steady stirring is what fixes that.
This one comes together in about five minutes: measure, stir, strain, and twist an orange peel over the top. Reach for añejo tequila, not blanco or reposado. This drink is built around what a year or more in oak actually tastes like.
★★★★★
"This was perfect for Friday evening sipping! Delish!"
Liz
Jump to:
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Añejo tequila. It's tempting to use whatever tequila is already in your liquor cabinet, but this recipe calls for añejo specifically. Añejo is aged one to three years in oak, so it drinks like a sipping tequila: agave up front, vanilla and a little floral aroma underneath. It costs more than a silver or gold tequila. In this drink, that's the point: you're paying for what the barrel added.
- Agave syrup. Tequila is distilled from the agave plant, so sweetening the drink with agave nectar instead of simple syrup keeps the flavors in the same family. It's sweeter than sugar and has a thicker, more velvety texture than simple syrup. Look for it near the honey and syrups in the baking aisle. If you can't find it, simple syrup works in a pinch, but the flavor will be different.
- Angostura and orange bitters. Angostura brings the classic old fashioned backbone. Orange bitters adds a layer of citrus that echoes the orange peel garnish. Using both together is what gives this drink more depth than a one-bitters version.
- Orange peel. Optional, but worth doing. Twisting it over the glass releases the citrus oils into the drink itself, adding fragrance without adding sugar.
How To Make It
- Combine the tequila, agave syrup, and both bitters in a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir until well chilled, at least 30 seconds.
- Strain into a fresh glass over a large ice cube.
- Twist an orange peel over the top and drop it in.
Before You Make This
- Stir for the full 30 seconds. Agave syrup is thicker than simple syrup, so it takes real effort to distribute evenly through the drink. Skip the stir, or rush it, and the first sip will taste like straight tequila while the last sip tastes like syrup.
- No mixing glass? Use a large measuring cup or a mason jar instead. The vessel matters less than the stirring.
- Use a peeler, not a knife, for the orange peel. A vegetable peeler gets a clean strip of peel without the pith, and without the risk of a knife slipping.
- Reach for the largest ice cube you can find. A single large cube melts slower than a handful of small ones, so the drink stays cold without turning watery by the last sip.
More tequila drinks
Made this? Loved it? Tell us everything!
Leave a quick star rating and comment below so we can trade tips and cheer each other on.
Who knows? Your twist might become someone else's new favorite!
Recipe
Añejo Tequila Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 3 ounces añejo tequila
- ½ ounce agave syrup
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- 4 dashes orange bitters
- orange peel, optional
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you'll join our email list and can unsubscribe at any time.
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail mixing glass with ice. Add the tequila, agave syrup and both bitters.3 ounces añejo tequila, ½ ounce agave syrup, 3 dashes Angostura bitters, 4 dashes orange bitters
- Stir with a bar spoon for at least 30 seconds, until the outside of the glass feels very cold.
- Place a large ice cube in a rocks glass. Strain the cocktail over the ice.
- Twist an orange peel over the glass to release the oils and then drop it in.orange peel,
Notes
- Añejo tequila is essential here. It's aged for sipping, not mixing, so skip the blanco or reposado you'd use for margaritas.
- Suggested substitute: simple syrup in place of agave syrup, using slightly more since agave is sweeter.
- Use one large ice cube, not several small ones, to keep the drink cold without diluting it too fast.
VIDEO
Nutrition
Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.
Jay says
It looked like you were using drops and not dashes of the bitters in the videos. A drop is definitely not a dash.
George says
I made it last night with blanco tequila and it came out great.
So glad you enjoyed the drink, George! Thanks for stopping back to let us and others know how it worked for you.