I made Stanley Tucci's 3-ingredient 'tequila-tini,' and the easy cocktail is perfect for anyone who loves an old fashioned

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  • Stanley Tucci took to Instagram to teach his followers how to make a "tequila-tini."

  • The drink combines tequila reposado with Cointreau and an orange twist.

  • After trying it myself, I think it's a great way for old fashioned lovers to celebrate National Tequila Day on July 24.

  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Stanley Tucci may be best known as an award-winning actor, but he's also made a name for himself as Instagram's favorite mixologist.

Early in the pandemic, when people were constantly cooking, perfecting their bar carts, and fine-tuning their at-home happy hours, the "Searching for Italy" host showed his followers how to make his version of a Negroni. He followed up the makeshift masterclass with other cocktail tutorials, including one for an old fashioned.

More recently, he returned to everyone's phone screens to demonstrate how to make what he calls a "tequila-tini." Though it doesn't feature vermouth, vodka, or gin (all common martini ingredients), Tucci put the drink in a martini glass to get into the spirit.

"It's really nice to see you again," the impeccably-dressed Tucci said as he addressed his Instagram audience. "I'm sorry it's been so long since I've made a cocktail, but sometimes I like to drink alone." Don't we all, Tucci?

I'm a big tequila fan, for both sipping and mixing - and let's be honest, shots are never completely out of the question - so I couldn't wait to dive into this simple recipe, which Tucci says his friend, actor and filmmaker Paul Feig, created.

Tucci's easy cocktail recipe only requires 3 ingredients and basic bar tools

ingredients
I used a small knife to cut a ribbon of orange peel for a twist garnish. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

Following the actor's lead, I bought an orange, Cointreau (an orange-flavored liqueur), and Casamigos tequila reposado, which Tucci cheekily points out is "made by a famous person." (George Clooney, another award-winning actor, is one of the faces behind Casamigos tequila.)

To prep for this early happy hour treat, I got out the tools I needed for this cocktail, which included a jigger (a fancy but mostly fun term for something that measures out a shot of alcohol), a stirring spoon, pitcher, strainer, and a paring knife.

And I couldn't let the "Devil Wears Prada" actor completely out-shine me when it came to my fashion game, so I rummaged through my mom's closet until I found something that somewhat resembled Tucci's classy button-down and vest combo.

Tucci's video caption says to use four shots of tequila and half of a shot of Cointreau, but his video narration instructed us to use two shots of tequila and a half-shot of the liqueur. I went with the lighter measurements he called for in the video because, well, I didn't really feel like having an instant hangover.

Making sure I had some fresh ice in my pitcher, I added the Cointreau, stirred for around one minute, and then added the tequila before stirring again for another 90 seconds.

Tucci Cocktail 2
After stirring the alcohol in a pitcher, I strained it into a glass. Rachel Askinasi/Insider

After what seemed like an eternity of extremely loud clanking as I swirled my metal spoon in the glass pitcher, I strained the cocktail into a glass, used my knife to cut a fresh twist from my orange, and marveled at my creation.

Tucci opted for a proper martini glass for this drink. I, however, have been blessed with incredibly shaky hands, so those upside-down pyramids never work out well for me. I tried to prevent a spill by using a small wine glass we only really use for Passover seder, but alas, I still couldn't escape my fate.

I wasn't expecting the smokey, bitter flavors that graced my taste buds

When I took my first sip, I was immediately grateful that I only used two shots of tequila instead of four. This drink is strong.

Tucci Cocktail end
Cheers, Stanley! Rachel Askinasi/Insider

I also noticed right away that the drink was perfectly chilled. This was the first time I've ever stirred a cocktail, and I think I'll be using this method from now on. I was able to get an evenly-chill temperature throughout the drink rather than the inconsistent temperature I typically experience when I have ice in my glass.

The flavors here were bitter and rich and kind of reminded me of an old fashioned, which made sense when I thought about the other cocktails that fit Tucci's palate.

If you're a fan of the sweeter, more agave-forward tequila blanco with lime, this may not be the drink for you. But if you're into smokier margaritas made with tequila reposado, Tucci's tequila-tini is definitely worth a shot.

And here's a pro-tip if you find the flavors overwhelming: In playing around with the recipe and trying to mellow it out a bit, I found that stirring for longer brings out the sweetness of the Cointreau.

Because of how simple it is to make, I think I'll be adding Tucci's tequila-tini to my happy hour rotation - that is, until I can safely get back to New York City's cocktail bars.

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