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Cocktail History
The Sabueso Old Fashioned is a modern cocktail that was created by Alex Sukopp, former bartender of Sips From Scripts, as a variation of the Oaxaca Old Fashioned from Death & Company. The recipe uses a smoky and sweet combination of agave spirits and dessert flavors, most of which come from a caramel coffee syrup. This special ingredient was also the inspiration for the drink’s name: “sabueso” is Spanish for the word “hound” and was chosen as a nod to both the syrup company’s canine-inspired branding and the cocktail’s tequila and mezcal base.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Tequila Reposado: This is a type of tequila made in Mexico with fermented blue agave and yeast, which are distilled and then briefly aged to develop a balanced, slightly oaky flavor.
Mezcal: This is a spirit made in Mexico with fermented agave and yeast, which are distilled after roasting agave hearts in underground pits to develop a smoky, complex flavor.
Caramel Coffee Syrup: This is a sweetener made with brewed coffee or coffee extract, caramelized brown sugar, white sugar, and water, which are heated and infused into a syrup with a rich, roasted coffee flavor.
Coffee & Cocoa Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with coffee beans, cocoa, herbs, spices, botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop a slightly bitter chocolate flavor.
Orange Peel: This the peel of an orange that is cut into a strip.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Mixing Glass: This is used to hold the ingredients while they’re being stirred. I used the Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass.
Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. I used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.
Julep Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is stirred. I used the A Bar Above Julep Strainer.
Ice Mold: This is used to make a clear ice cube. I used the BERLINZO Premium Clear Ice Cube Maker Mold.
Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.
Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Light orange color
• Aroma: Smoke and citrus
• Taste: Noticeable agave flavor followed by sweet caramel and coffee notes
• Finish: Mezcal and slightly bitter coffee
Kendall’s Take: “Although a fairly simple beverage, wow, is the Sabueso Old Fashioned ever delicious. I don’t usually drink Old Fashioneds, mezcal, or coffee-flavored cocktails, but the syrup adds a flavorful and sweet coffee backbone to it that’s brightened up immensely with just a drop of complementing bitters. The smokiness of the mezcal is also present in the swallow but fairly subdued elsewhere by the flavors of the syrup, making it a very pleasant drink that’s almost dessert-style in its profile.”
Recipe
Sabueso Old Fashioned
Description
The Sabueso Old Fashioned is a modern cocktail that was created by Alex Sukopp, former bartender of Sips From Scripts, as a variation of the Oaxaca Old Fashioned from Death & Company. The recipe uses a smoky and sweet combination of agave spirits and dessert flavors, most of which come from a caramel coffee syrup. This special ingredient was also the inspiration for the drink's name: "sabueso" is Spanish for the word "hound" and was chosen as a nod to both the syrup company's canine-inspired branding and the cocktail's tequila and mezcal base.
Ingredients
Method
Add tequila, mezcal, caramel coffee syrup, and coffee & cocoa bitters to a mixing glass.
Fill mixing glass with cubed ice.
Using a bar spoon, stir for 30-45 seconds until well-chilled and slightly diluted.
Add a clear ice cube to a lowball glass.
Using a julep strainer, strain into lowball glass.
Garnish with orange peel.
