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Old Fashioned vs Oaxaca Old Fashioned
The same template on grain and on agave — and what smoke does in the place of oak.
Which should you make?
Identical in shape, and they taste nothing alike. Whisky brings oak, vanilla and weight; tequila with a quarter-measure of mezcal brings pepper, earth and smoke, and agave syrup sweetens something made from the same plant. The Oaxaca is the more striking drink and the one that divides a room, so if you are making one for someone whose taste you do not know, make the original.
| Attribute |  Old Fashioned | Oaxaca Old Fashioned Oaxaca Old Fashioned |
|---|---|---|
| In a word | dry, soft, light — a spirit and sugar drink served over ice. | off-dry, soft, light — a spirit and sugar drink served over ice. |
| Structure | Spirit and sugar | Spirit and sugar |
| Family | Old Fashioned | Old Fashioned |
| Smells of | Citrus peel, Vanilla | Agave, Citrus peel |
| Technique | StirringA heavy, silky, completely clear drink. Alcohol reads more sharply than in the same drink shaken, because nothing has softened it. | StirringA heavy, silky, completely clear drink. Alcohol reads more sharply than in the same drink shaken, because nothing has softened it. |
| Base spirit | whisky | tequila |
| Strength | strong | strong |
| ABV | 32% | 27% |
| Calories | 154 kcal | 175 kcal |
| Sweetness | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Sourness | 0/5 | 0/5 |
| Bitterness | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Prep time | 5 min | 4 min |
| Difficulty | medium | medium |
| Equipment | Mixing glass, Bar spoon, Jigger | Mixing glass, Bar spoon, Jigger |
| Occasions | nightcap, dinner, everyday | nightcap, dinner, everyday |
| Alcohol-free option | No | No |
Choose the Old Fashioned if you'd rather keep the calories down and you prefer a drier, less sweet drink.
Choose the Oaxaca Old Fashioned if you want something quick to make and you prefer a sweeter drink.
Can you make both?
Both need: Angostura bitters.
- Only the Old Fashioned
- Bourbon or rye whisky, Sugar cube
- Only the Oaxaca Old Fashioned
- Tequila, Mezcal, Agave syrup
What actually separates them
bitterness
The Old Fashioned is markedly more bitter — 3/5 against 1/5 — so the Oaxaca Old Fashioned is the one to reach for if that is not what you want.
base spirit
Old Fashioned is built on whisky, Oaxaca Old Fashioned on tequila. If you only own one of the two, that settles it.
how much alcohol you are drinking
At 32% against 27%, the Old Fashioned is roughly 1.2 times the strength in the glass — 2.4 UK units against 2.4.
Effectively identical on: sourness, strength.