Tequila Old Fashioned

History

The Tequila Old Fashioned is a modern adaptation of the classic Old Fashioned, which dates back to the 1800s. The original Old Fashioned was a simple mix of whiskey, sugar, bitters, and water, designed to highlight the spirit’s natural flavours. Over time, bartenders experimented with different base spirits, leading to variations like the Rum Old Fashioned, Mezcal Old Fashioned, and Tequila Old Fashioned. The Tequila Old Fashioned likely emerged as part of the craft cocktail movement, which gained popularity in the early 2000s. Bartenders sought to showcase Añejo tequila’s rich, aged flavours, similar to whiskey, while maintaining the simplicity of the original recipe. The use of agave syrup instead of sugar enhances the natural sweetness of tequila, making it a smooth and balanced drink. While tequila cocktails have existed for centuries, the first recorded tequila cocktail was documented in 1883, resembling what we now call a Tequila Old Fashioned. This suggests that tequila-based spirit-forward cocktails have been around for much longer than commonly thought.