Recipe: Oaxaca Old-Fashioned

The fave new cocktail of our Drinks Editor.

A few years back The PDT cocktail book came out and everyone was gaga that the cult New York bar was putting out a book. People seemed to like it but to me it was just okay—a solid book, some interesting drinks but nothing to write home about given the bar’s pedigree. So when I heard Death & Co.—another cult New York bar—was putting out a book this season I didn’t exactly pre-order it. And it turns out I’m a dope—it’s the best bar book I’ve seen in ages.For starter’s it’s gorgeous—big and heavy and substantial. Secondly it nods to the fact that in the internet age simply listing recipes, no matter how great they are, isn’t enough. Here there’s some nice writing, some excellent work on technique and amazing recipes—like this Death & Co. classic.  

• 11⁄2 ounces El Tesoro Reposado tequila
• 1⁄2 ounce Del Maguey San Luis Del Rio mezcal
• 1 teaspoon agave nectar
• 2 dashes angostura bitters
• Garnish: 1 orange twist

Stir all the ingredients over ice, then strain into a coupe. To garnish, flame the orange twist over the drink, then drop it in.  Reprinted from Death & Co. Copyright (c) 2013 by David Kaplan, Nick Fauchald, and Alex Day. Published by Ten Speed Press, a division of Random House, LLC, a Penguin Random House Company.