The life story bit:
Maybe the title is a bit of an exaggeration, or maybe my friends only order Old Fashioneds? Either way, I don’t know why I didn’t think of putting tequila in my old-fashioned instead of whiskey before now. Can you say genius? You know I am a die-hard whiskey fan because DUH, it’s the name of our blog, but sometimes a girl has to mix it up a bit. If you haven’t had a chance to try an Anejo Old Fashioned, be ready to grab your keys and hit the liquor store ASAP.
Where did I get the inspiration for this lovely drink? Straight from Patron Tequila themselves. I have the delightful pleasure of getting the taste of all of Patron’s different primary flavors at a pop-up party for this lovely company here in Portland called Grate Company. They do event planning and scents and candles, and everything smells fantastic. And the man that was repping the drinks asked me if I had ever tasted the Extra Anejo Patron before and that it makes an excellent addition to Old Fashioneds. I nearly snorted my little taster glass of tequila because of WTF? What a great idea?!?
Why is the Añejo Old Fashioned my new fave drink?
- It’s stinking easy to make. Like I kid you not, only one liquor involved.
- It’s a smoother version of the regular whiskey old-fashioned. Whiskey tends to be a bit harsh if you don’t balance your Old Fashioned properly. Since Old Fashioneds generally have ONE liquor, it’s a good idea to choose something you like the taste of because you are drinking a cup of it, cut with slow-melting ice and a little bit of sugar. With an aged tequila, you have a little less of a problem.
- It’s gorgeous and made with tequila. It’s a huge bummer that we are not named Tequila While We Work. Tell us in the comments if that is a missed opportunity. ? As you can see by our tequila cocktails that we have on the blog, we love it just as much as we do whiskey.
What is Añejo?
- It’s an aged version of Reposado or Blanco tequila, usually in bourbon barrels for 1-3 years. Any longer, and you get into that Extra Añejo territory. No joke. That’s what it’s called, but you know we like to be extra here on the blog.
- It will be a bit smoky because of the use of scorched Bourbon barrels but not quite the Kentucky Hug (aka that burn you feel in your throat from drinking whiskey, that is. ?) you get from Bourbon.
What are your favorite tequilas?
- Patron is a classic here, but you could also try their Extra Añejo.
- My personal fave is El Tesoro because I am a bit of a fancy bitch.
- Choose a brand you like, but you want to go aged here, something you wouldn’t mind sipping, so maybe not the bottom shelf here.
Añejo Old Fashioned
This cocktail is a refreshing new version of the classic Old Fashioned if you want to mix up your usual drink order. The Añejo tequila gives this cocktail a smooth, bright flavor. Close your eyes, and you’ll feel like you’re on the beach.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Patron Añejo Tequila
- 1/4 oz Simple Syrup or Agave Syrup if you got it
- 1-2 dash Angostura bitters, or a bunch because we are crazy.
- 1 orange peel
- 1 giant ice cube
- 1 edible flower and orange zest for garnish
Directions
- Peel your orange, twist into the glass to express the oils, and run the peel along the edge.
- Pour in your tequila, simple syrup, and bitters, then stir.
- Add your giant ice cube and stir again to cool the liquid.
- Top with your edible flower and orange zest and serve immediately.
FYI we are on TikTok now! And you can see the drink being made right before your very eyes!
