Añejo Tequila Old Fashioned – Two Ways!

We took a traditional Old Fashioned, usually made with Bourbon, and updated it with a delicious aged Añejo Tequila. We are giving you not one, but two ways, to enjoy your Añejo Tequila Old Fashioned with 2 classic recipes!

This first recipe for Añejo Tequila Old Fashioned keeps traditional with the use of bitters and an orange peel, but uses agave nectar to blend perfectly with the flavors of this rich and flavorful tequila.

The second recipe for Añejo Old Fashioned stays true to it’s roots by using a sugar cube that is doused in bitters and orange bitters, then crushed and mixed with Añejo Tequila.

Similar cocktails to the Añejo Old Fashioned are the Añejo Manhattan or Añejo on the Rocks.

Añejo Tequila

If you have not had Añejo before it is a delicious tequila that is aged in barrels for a minimum of one year. Most Añejo Tequilas have a beautiful caramel color. The flavor is a blend of salty earthy tequila mixed with caramel and vanilla.

It is an excellent tequila to sip on the rocks or in cocktails that are liquor forward, like this Anejo Cobbler or Tequila Sour.

Some brands that make a great Añejo:

• Casamigos
• Costco Kirkland Añejo Tequila – sometimes called Costco-migos because it is rumored that it is actually Casamigos (it’s really good!)
• Patron
• Don Julio

Recipe #1 Ingredients

Here are the items you need to make the recipe #1 Añejo Old Fashioned– short rocks glass, large ice cube, stir spoon, Añejo tequila, fresh orange, Angostura bitters, and agave nectar.

Recipe #2 Ingredients

** Recipe #2 is how I prefer to drink my Añejo Old Fashioned.

Here are the items you need to make the recipe #2 Añejo Old Fashioned– short rocks glass, cocktail muddle, stir spoon, large ice cube, Añejo tequila, fresh orange, Angostura bitters, and a sugar cube.

Optionally you can also add a couple dashes of orange bitters to enhance the orange flavor.

Ice For Old Fashioneds

It is traditional to use 1 large cube of ice to drink your Old Fashioned. To make amazing Clear Ice I use these Clearly Frozen Trays. They require a little more work, so if that isn’t your jam, these large cube trays will work too!

Agave or Sugar Cubes

Agave is a natural sweetener made from the agave plant…just like tequila. So they are a match made in heaven. It is used in place of sugar or simple syrup of a traditional Old Fashioned.

In recipe #2 we are using a sugar cube which is the REAL old fashioned way of making an old fashioned! The cube is doused in bitters (and a splash of water) to help it disintegrate into your Añejo Old Fashioned Cocktail.

Both agave and real sugar can tend to be hard to properly mix into your cocktail, so make sure you take the extra time to stir it into your drink really well.

Orange

You will use the orange peel in this cocktail, taking advantage of the natural essential oils in the skin. Give it a little twist over your cocktail and rub it around the inside of the glass. It will perfume your drink perfectly.

Try to cut as close the rind as you can, avoiding the white pith underneath. Use a really sharp paring knife to accomplish this.

Cherries

When making an Añejo Old Fashioned, it’s important to choose the right kind of cherries to use as a garnish. The bright red candied maraschino cherries that you would put in a Shirley Temple or Roy Rogers are not the right cherry.

The correct cherries are firm, very dark in color, and are most likely $5 or more per bottle. They can sometimes be called Bourbon Cherries.

Luxardo cherries or Amerina Fabbri are a popular choice among cocktail enthusiasts. These cherries are made from the same Marasca cherries but are left to soak in a high-proof liqueur for up to three years, resulting in a richer and more complex flavor.

Eating this cherry at the end of your cocktail is like having dessert after dinner!

Bitters

Bitters is a bit of a misnomer! The word “bitter” means something that is sharp or pungent tasting. Cocktail bitters could not be more different!!! They are spiced, herbaceous and slightly sweet.

Bitters are a type of concentrated, aromatic liquid that is made by steeping herbs, spices, fruits, and/or roots in alcohol. They are typically used as a flavoring agent in cocktails, like an Old Fashioned and a Mexican Firing Squad, and are known for their intense and complex taste.

They add depth and complexity to a wide variety of drinks. Some of the most common types of bitters include Angostura bitters, Peychaud’s bitters, and orange bitters.

For these two Añejo Old Fashioned Recipes we are using the Angostura Bitters and Orange Bitters.

Tips to Make An Amazing Añejo Old Fashioned

1. Use a quality Añejo tequila that is a nice dark caramel color. Generally a good Añejo will be $50+. When you smell it, it should have aromas of caramel and vanilla.
2. This drink will be stirred, not shaken. You want the flavors to slowly open as the ice melts into your drink.
3. Pour all the ingredients over ice and then stir…stir…stir. Take the extra time to stir the drink. This will mix in the agave and start the ice melting, which will mellow the burn of the alcohol and open up all the layers of flavor.
4. Peel the orange rind close to the surface, trying to not get any of the white pith that is right under the skin. The pith can tend to be bitter.

More Añejo Cocktails

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