There’s something deeply satisfying about the cool months: a warm fire, the scent of baking apple pie, and a cocktail that complements the moment. The Mezcal Old Fashioned fits that scene perfectly—smoky, sweet, and spiced, like an apple crisp finished over a grill.
The first hit is cinnamon on the nose, then a slightly sweet, smoky sip from the blend of mezcal and house-made apple syrup. It’s a clear riff on the classic Old Fashioned, which is traditionally made by muddling a sugar cube with Angostura bitters, then stirring with whiskey and garnishing with an orange peel and cherry. This Apple Mezcal Old Fashioned swaps in mezcal and an apple syrup for a seasonal, smoky twist that many will prefer if they love apples or mezcal.
Rather than muddling a sugar cube, this version uses an apple syrup made from cider or juice. Making simple syrups at home is one of the easiest ways to elevate your cocktails—cost-effective and quick to prepare. Once the syrup is ready, combine it with mezcal and orange bitters, stir with ice, strain into a rocks glass over a large cube, and garnish with a fanned apple dusted with cinnamon for an elegant finish.
What Glass to Serve It In
An Old Fashioned is best served in an Old Fashioned (rocks) glass over a single large ice cube so the drink chills without diluting too quickly.
Special Bar Equipment Used
- Cocktail mixing glass
- Mixing spoon
- Orange bitters
- Mezcal (El Silencio recommended)
- Cocktail strainer
- Small saucepan for the apple syrup
- Large ice cube mold
- Bamboo skewers for the fanned apple garnish
More Cocktail Recipes You’ll Love
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- Rum Negroni
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- Rum Manhattan
- Rum Sour
- Smoked Apple Crisp
Mezcal Old Fashioned
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Ingredients
- 1 cup pure apple cider or apple juice (no sugar added)
- 1/4 cup sugar
- pinch of salt
- 1/4 oz apple syrup
- 2 oz mezcal (such as El Silencio)
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- garnish: fanned apple slices on a skewer, dusted with cinnamon
Instructions
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Simmer the apple cider or juice over medium heat and reduce it by about half. Whisk in the sugar and a pinch of salt until fully dissolved. Heat gently to about 180°F (do not boil), then remove from the heat and cool completely before using.
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In a mixing glass, stir the mezcal, apple syrup, and 2 dashes of orange bitters with ice until chilled and slightly diluted.
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Strain into an Old Fashioned glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with fanned apple slices dusted with cinnamon on a skewer.
Notes
- Store apple syrup covered in the refrigerator for up to one week, or freeze for longer storage (up to six months).
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