Spaghetti Western

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Cocktail History

The Spaghetti Western is a modern cocktail that was created in 2011 by Jessica Gonzalez at Death & Company in New York City, New York. Described as a variation of Death & Company’s famous Oaxaca Old Fashioned, this version of the recipe calls for tequila and mezcal as the base spirits and bitters for complexity, but it also adds Amaro Nonino, a citrus-forward Italian liqueur and the “spaghetti” noted in the drink’s name.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Tequila Reposado: This is a type of tequila made in Mexico with blue agave, sugar, and alcohol that is aged from two to twelve months. We used Arette Tequila Reposado because it has a light and peppery flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Ritual Zero-Proof Tequila Alternative in place of the tequila.

Mezcal: This is a spirit made in Mexico with agave, sugar, and alcohol that is aged in an underground pit lined with wood. We used Ilegal Mezcal Joven because it was recommended by the drink’s creator. For a mocktail version of this drink, try MONDAY Zero Alcohol Mezcal in place of the mezcal.

Amaro Nonino Quintessentia: This is a bitter liqueur made in Italy with grappa, fruits, herbs, botanicals, and alcohol. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Dr. Zero Zero ArmarNo Non-Alcoholic Amaro in place of the amaro.

Orange Bitters: This is a food product made with oranges, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. We used Angostura Orange Bitters. For a mocktail version of this drink, try All The Bitter Non-Alcoholic Orange Bitters in place of the orange bitters.

Grapefruit Twist: This is the peel of a grapefruit that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We 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. We used the Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass.

Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. We 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. We used the A Bar Above Julep Strainer.

Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. We used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.

Tasting Notes

The Spaghetti Western has strong aromas of grapefruit touched with notes of agave earthiness and begins with the strong, dry taste of tequila at the front followed by a unique combination of citrus, smoky mezcal, and herbs on the finish.

Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: Although we’ll admit that this recipe’s aggressively strong and boozy flavors didn’t fully land for us, it’s a very creative drink that expertly combines some unique flavors. Agave spirit or Manhattan enthusiasts might enjoy the Spaghetti Western more than we did!

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Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐
“I’m honestly bummed to say that this recipe, as written, was not a big win for me. On paper, I really like the combination of ingredients, but because Amaro Nonino is the only sweetener, the drink ended up tasting a bit too much like straight alcohol. Don’t get me wrong, I like straight alcohol just fine, but I do like my cocktails to have a bit more balance than I found the Spaghetti Western to have. I would add a bit of agave syrup to make it more palatable for the average person; at that point, it does ride the line of being really close to an Oaxaca Old Fashioned but with the added touches of herbal amaro.”

—

Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐
“Woof, I had one sip of this recipe and knew it was much too boozy and serious for me. The alcoholic ingredients are harsh as is and aren’t really muted by any others like they have been in other mezcal recipes we’ve tried. I definitely winced and shivered as I swallowed, so my palate just isn’t develop enough to enjoy a drink like this yet. Maybe next time!”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from Mezcal + Tequila Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for the Golden Age of Agave by Robert Simonson.

Sale

Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for the Golden Age of Agave [A Cocktail Recipe Book]

Hardcover Book; Simonson, Robert (Author); English (Publication Language); 176 Pages – 04/06/2021 (Publication Date) – Ten Speed Press (Publisher)

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AuthorMezcal + Tequila Cocktails

Make It a Mocktail: Use Ritual Zero-Proof Tequila Alternative in place of the tequila, MONDAY Zero Alcohol Mezcal in place of the mezcal, Dr. Zero Zero ArmarNo Non-Alcoholic Amaro in place of the amaro, and All The Bitter Non-Alcoholic Orange Bitters in place of the orange bitters to try a booze-free version of this drink.

Shop Glassware & Tools

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A Bar Above Premium Japanese Jigger with 8 Measurements Inside – Rolled Lip, Double Jigger for Bartending & Measuring Cocktails – Professional & Heavy-Duty 304 Stainless Steel Cocktail Jigger 1oz/ 2oz

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OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set – Swivel and Julienne

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More Mezcal Cocktails

If you like this mezcal-based cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:

The Marriage of Maguey: A mezcal and tequila cocktail made with coffee chocolate liqueur, orange curaçao, and agave syrup

Cocoa Smoke: A mezcal cocktail made with white crème de cacao, ancho chile liqueur, chocolate bitters, and an orange twist

Sforzando: A rye and mezcal cocktail made with Bénédictine, xocolatl mole bitters, and an orange twist

Old Grampian: A Scotch cocktail made with honey syrup, Angostura aromatic bitters, orange bitters, and an orange peel

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