Cantera Negra Reposado tequila adds a fun twist to a classic cocktail
The Old Fashioned is one of the most ordered cocktails in the world, and many bars are judged by how well they make this most basic of mixed drinks. Bourbon and rye lovers have enjoyed this nectar-like drink for ages.
But classic cocktails don't have to be boring, and if you'd like to shake it up a bit, you can substitute some of the ingredients in a standard Old Fashioned to make this agave-based version.
The Old Fashioned traditionally contains bourbon or rye, muddled sugar and water (or a simple syrup), a dash of aromatic bitters, an expressed orange peel, and a cocktail cherry (Luxardo usually being the standard).
In this revision, we take some of the sweet and savory goodness from agave and revamp the recipe only slightly for the Tequila Old Fashioned using Cantera Negra Reposado.
What is Reposado tequila?
Reposado tequila has been aged in barrels, usually oak barrels that were previously used for a whiskey, for a minimum of two months and up to one year. The aging adds some of the wood and sweet caramel notes to the tequlia, giving it a whole new layer of complexity.
For this recipe, we'll be using the Cantera Negra Reposado, which comes in at 80 proof and was aged for a minimum of seven months in a combination of French Oak barrels and American White Oak that originally housed congac and bourbon.
This brings together the best of two worlds, with the traditional vanilla, caramel and oak notes that are present in a standard Old Fashioned, along with the cooked agave, pepper and vegetal notes that are found in any tequila.
Cantera Negra Tequila Old Fashioned Recipe
- 2 oz. Cantera Negra reposado tequlia
- 1 tsp light agave nectar
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 dash mole bitters
- Orange peel for garnish
In a mixing glass, combine the tequila, agave, and bitters. Fill it with ice and stir for about 30 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass over ice (preferably one large ice cube) using a hawthorne strainer. Express the orange peel into the glass, and rub the inside of the peel along the rim of the glass before dropping it on top of the drink.
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