Smoky Apple Mezcal Old Fashioned

When it comes to fall and winter months, there’s nothing like cozying up next to a crackling fire and smelling an apple pie baking in the oven. Of course, a cocktail in hand that pairs perfectly with that moment makes it all come together.

The mezcal old fashioned tastes like a boozy smoky apple pie crisp cooked on a BBQ. The scent of the cinnamon hits your nose first, followed by a slightly sweet and smoky sip of the combination of mezcal and apple syrup.

The original Old Fashioned is made with a sugar cube that is muddled with Angostura bitters, then mixed with whiskey and garnished with an orange peel and a maraschino cherry. This Apple Mezcal Old Fashioned is obviously quite a variation, but you will probably find it even more delicious, especially if you are into mezcal and/or apples.

Instead of muddling the sugar, you create an apple syrup with either apple cider or juice. In a way, that’s kinda muddling, right? Making your own syrups at home is the easiest way to up your cocktail game. One of the best parts is they are super cheap to make. Then we just add the mezcal and some orange bitters, strain it into a rocks glass with ice, and add the elegant fanned apple with a dust of cinnamon.

What Glass to Serve It In

An Old Fashioned cocktail is served in an Old Fashioned Rocks Glass with a large ice cube, which will melt slowly.

Special Bar Equipment Used

• Cocktail Mixing Glass
• Cocktail Mixing Glass Spoon
• Angostura Orange Bitters
• El Silencio Mezcal
• Cocktail Strainer
• All-Clad 1-Quart Saucepan for making the apple syrup
• King Cube Easy-Remove Ice Tray
• Bamboo knotted skewers for the apple fan garnish

More Cocktail Recipes You’ll Love

• Hot and Smoky Mezcal Margarita
• Rum Negroni
• Aperol Spritz
• Rum Manhattan
• Rum Sour
• Smoked Apple Crisp

Mezcal Old Fashioned

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Course: Drink

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: 1 drink

Author: Justin McChesney-Wachs

Ingredients

Apple syrup

• 1 cup pure apple cider or apple juice (with no sugar added)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• pinch of salt

Mezcal Old Fashioned

• 1/4 oz apple syrup
• 2 oz mezcal (such as El Silencio)
• 2 dashes orange bitters
• garnish with fanned apple slices on skewers dusted with cinnamon

Instructions

To make the Apple Syrup

• Reduce the apple cider/juice by half over medium heat. Whisk in the sugar and a pinch of salt to dissolve completely. Bring to 180 degrees Fahrenheit (no higher) then remove from heat and chill the syrup completely before using.

To make the Mezcal Old Fashioned

• Stir the mezcal, apple syrup and 2 dashes of orange bitters in a cocktail mixing glass or a shaker with ice.
• Pour through a strainer into an old fashioned rocks glass with a large ice cube. Garnish with cinnamon dusted fanned apple slices on a skewer.

Notes

• The apple syrup can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for 6 months.