The Oaxacan Old Fashioned is what happens when you hand the most refined stirred cocktail in the world to the smokiest, most complex spirit in the agave family. Barrel-aged mezcal brings oak, earth, and smoke where bourbon brings warmth and vanilla. Top Hat Old Fashioned Syrup handles the bitters, citrus, and spice in one clean pour. Three drops of 5% saline pulls the smoke forward and rounds every edge. The result is bold, contemplative, and completely unforgettable.
Barrel-aged mezcal is worth seeking out for this build. The extra oak softens the smoke and pulls the profile closer to bourbon territory. The saline at 3 drops doesn't make the drink salty — it suppresses bitterness and pulls the smoke forward. Don't skip it.
Method
- Combine 2 oz barrel-aged Mezcal, ¼ oz Top Hat Old Fashioned Syrup, 2 dashes bitters, and 3 drops saline in a mixing glass.
- Fill with ice and stir 20–25 seconds until very cold.
- Strain over a single large cube in a rocks glass.
- Express an orange peel over the top — snap it skin-side down toward the glass. Drop in or discard.
- Optional: light one end of a cinnamon stick, blow it out, rest it across the rim.
Pro move: Barrel-aged mezcal is worth tracking down. The oak softens the smoke and pulls the profile closer to bourbon territory. Try it with unaged mezcal once to understand why we recommend aged.
The Saline Solution
3 drops of 5% saline (5g salt dissolved in 95g water) suppresses bitterness, brightens the citrus from the Old Fashioned Syrup, and pulls the smoke forward. Make a batch: dissolve 5g fine sea salt into 95g room temperature water. Store in a dropper bottle. Keeps indefinitely.