Oaxaca Old Fashioned

- 1½ oz reposada tequila (El Tesoro)
- 1/2 oz mezcal
- 1 tsp (5 ml) agave nectar
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
Stir with ice, strain and serve over a large ice cube in an old-fashioned glass. Garnish with an orange twist (flamed if you can).
The Oaxaca Old Fashioned was created by Phil Ward in 2008 at the New York cocktail bar Death & Co. It was one of the early cocktails to introduce mezcal to a wider audience and has now become a modern classic. The name comes from the Mexican state in which most mezcal is produced.
The drink opens with the citrus aroma of orange from the garnish and then the smokiness of the mezcal comes through. The Death & Co. book recommends Del Maguey San Luis Del Rio Mezcal though we used Ilegal Mezcal Joven to good effect. I prefer a good bourbon or aged rum Old Fashioned but the Oaxaca makes for a worthy variation.