1. Mezcal Old Fashioned

Bourbon or rye is the liquid in a variation of an Old Fashioned, although it’s often enhanced by the use of mezcal, an agave spirit. This cocktail is quite complex with the bold use of flavors that does not call for expensive or exotic ingredients in it.

You Will Need:

• Mezcal: Drink the best mezcal you can afford. Either Del Maguey Vida or Banhez is tough to top as a quality, budget-minded choice.
• Bitters: Angostura unless you want a little more going on; then try orange or chocolate.
• Sweetener: Consider to make your own simple syrup instead of buying it-they’re so much cheaper. Honey, agave, even maple syrups are all great with interesting depth.
• Ice and Orange Peel: That finishing flourish evens out your cocktail. Orange peel has this great whimsy of zest.

2. Mezcal Old Fashioned

Ingredients

If possible, purchase just one of each ingredient so you don’t break the bank for pennies and change. Often store brand or generic is perfectly suitable should you be using those as a base of bitters or sweetener to cut back even more cost.

Mezcal

• 1 sugar cube, or ½ tsp of house-made simple syrup
• 2 dashes bitters, Angostura or orange being perfect
• 1 orange strip, peeled
• Ice Cubes

Your Sweetener Preparations

Basic Simple Syrup- Very thrifty method.

• Equal quantities of sugar and water.
• Heat this mix in the sauce pan. It becomes cool quickly once done and store this liquid sweet stuff in an air tight container in your refrigerator. Using it can go for about two weeks in total

Using honey or agave nectar? Okay you need not make that liquid syrpy with dilute, as small quantity that we talked about of it would work pretty well in all this procedure.

Craft Your Mezcal Old Fashioned

• Stir well until sugar is dissolved, or add over ice if using simple syrup.
• Add mezcal and one large ice cube. Stir to chill and dilute, about 30 seconds.
• Strain into a fresh ice-filled Old Fashioned glass.
• Rub orange peel over drink, squeezing to release oils, and drop into glass.

3. Affordable Mezcal Alternatives

Try? Here are some mezcal brands that can acquaint you with that smoky taste without hurting your wallet.

Del Maguey Vida is very smoky. It’s a good mezcal if you are entering the spirit world.
Banhez Mezcal has a very mild flavor and fruity taste. It’s perfect if you are not familiar with mezcal.
Montelobos Espadin: Earthy and green flavors complement cocktails well and add richness to the Old Fashioned.
Buy in bulk or at holiday time when local stores or online retailers offer sales.

4. Alternative Sweeteners for Added Flavor

One of the secrets in having a cheap Mezcal Old Fashioned is that you could use sweeteners you most probably already have at home:

• Honey: This would give your mezcal a floral richness and a less smoky flavor.
• Maple Syrup: It would taste great with mezcal and just a little fuller-bodied and stronger.
• Agave Syrup: Since both come from the agave plant, it will naturally blend with mezcal to make the drink even truer to taste.

Each sweetener has a slightly different flavor, so you might want to experiment with which one you like the best.

5. Choose Your Bitters: Bitters on a Budget

Of course, this adds one more layer to the Mezcal Old Fashioned. But Angostura bitters is pretty classic, as well, and does well. There are some budget-friendly options for you, though:

• Orange Bitters. This will give you just a hint of citrus with still that orange garnish.
• Chocolate Bitters: And now, this really enhances the flavor of the drink by adding a smoke-smoked element from the mezcal-a great winter warmer

6. Garnish on your Budget

It is not necessary for a garnish to be elaborative in its nature. It could simply be a segment of an orange peel providing a great zest and scent to your drink, sans the cost. But for that matter, get adventurous, if you’re up to the challenge and coat the rim of your glass with cinnamon or chili powder.

Pro Tip: Buy a peeler if you don’t own one-this helps you in getting a thin orange peel, maximizes the oils without removing too much of your rind.

7. How to Stock up and Store Mezcal Handling

The best way to get maximized what you get in the mezcal is actually by keeping the spirit even fresher for more periods of time by doing such things as:

• Keep refrigerated and dark: Both light and heat will in due course degrade it.
• Seals tight: Oxidation ruins flavor.

Store your mezcal well and enjoy the application of quality even if rarely used.

8. Penny-Pinching Tips to Make Cocktails at Home

• Plan for Versatility: Mezcal is perfect for more than just an Old Fashioned! Try it in other cocktails like a Mezcal Mule or Paloma to make the most of your investment.
• Host a DIY Cocktail Night: If you are purchasing mezcal for a special occasion, then you can host a DIY cocktail night. Mixing different drinks with the same base ingredients allows you to try out a lot of cocktails without the extra cost.
• Buy it When in Sale or Discount: Liquor stores are normally having promotions or discounts. Buying during such times will enable you to get quality mezcal at a relatively cheaper price.
• Buy in Bulk: In case you make cocktails frequently, bitters are best bought in bulk. In the long term, you end up saving because you’re not constantly replacing little bottles.

9. FAQs

Q1: Can I replace mezcal with tequila in this Old Fashioned?
Yes, you can! Tequila is much smoother and less smoky than mezcal. This is a great alternative if you prefer a less smoky flavor.

Q2: How do I get that smoky flavor without mezcal?
You can try an infusion with a cocktail smoker kit or a dash of smoky bitters as a substitute.

Q3: Can I pre-mix this cocktail for a party?
Yes, mix all your ingredients except for ice and garnish, store in sealed bottle, and pour over ice when ready to pour.

Conclusion

A life of sipping pleasure that costs all of the expensive dollars: a mezcal old fashioned on a shoestring. All of the real fun in this sort of classy drink can be yours if you opt to choose relatively inexpensive good substitutes for the sweetener you add, and also for how you store your mezcal. Take up a few of the ingredients, a few of the friends and raise a glass to costly drinks!

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