Sazerac Recipe

About the Sazerac

The Sazerac is a classic New Orleans cocktail, and the official cocktail of New Orleans. It is recognized as one of the oldest cocktails, and in some circles it's arguably recognized as America's first cocktail.What's in a Sazerac cocktail?The original Sazerac recipe likely used cognac—a French brandy—as its base spirit. This cognac was called Sazerac de Forge et Fils, and is also where the cocktail derives its name. The cognac served as the main ingredient, and was mixed with Peychaud's bitters, absinthe or anise liqueur, and a sugar cube. This drink is typically garnished with a lemon peel spritzed over the top of the drink to release its oils, lending rich aromatics with each sip.In the ensuring years, the Sazerac recipe was modified to use rye whiskey, an occurrence widely attributed to a cognac shortage resulting from the European wine grape epidemic in the late 1800s. Since rye was plentiful and readily available in America, it assumed the mantle. Rye's trademark spice notes held up well to the rest of the Sazerac's ingredients, making rye a natural fit, and the recipe modification stuck.This combination would prove to be timeless—the Sazerac is a beloved classic that can be found at bars all over the world, alongside other classic whiskey cocktails like the Old-Fashioned and the Manhattan. The Sazerac has cemented its reputation as one of the most important drinks in American history.This modification to the recipe has carried over into modern times, with the rye whiskey version of the Sazerac being widely accepted today as the classic Sazerac recipe.The history of the SazeracThe invention of the Sazerac is often credited to Antoine Peychaud, a Creole immigrant and the owner of an apothecary in New Orleans in the 1830s, who came up with a liquid mixture of cognac, absinthe, sugar, and a tonic he created that later became known as his eponymous Peychaud's bitters. The drink was a hit.Back then, the Sazerac was served regularly in bars and saloons in the French Quarter, and it became the drink of choice at the Sazerac Coffee House. Eventually, it spread across the city and beyond, making its way to both shores and many places between.As lovely as that story sounds, and as widely accepted and retold as it is, it turns out the above narrative may be false. Hey, cocktails are often soaked in rumor and innuendo. Nevertheless, it makes for a fun read while you sip on a drink.What is definitely true is that the Sazerac has continued to shine over the years—and the modern cocktail renaissance has reintroduced it to many new drinkers, as the recipe finds itself on an endless array of cocktail menus around the world. In 2008, the Sazerac was recognized as the official cocktail of New Orleans, a city that still serves many fine examples of the drink.How to make a Sazerac cocktailThe Sazerac is a stirred drink that is traditionally served without ice. Start by adding a small rinse of absinthe or Herbsaint to an empty Old-Fashioned glass (aka rocks glass) until the inside of the glass is generously coated. Dump out the excess.Then add the rye whiskey (or cognac if you're feeling old-school) to a separate mixing glass with a few dashes of Peychaud's bitters, simple syrup, and ice. You can use a muddled sugar cube, but simple syrup creates a silkier texture without any gritty bits. Stir until well-chilled, and strain into that absinthe-rinsed Old-Fashioned glass. All that's left to do now is garnish your drink with a lemon twist.Popular whiskeys for a Sazerac cocktailThese days, rye whiskey is the spirit of choice for most Sazeracs. Any quality rye with bold flavor notes will work nicely, so feel free to use your favorite. We like a rye with a little heft to it, preferably something closer to 90 or 100 proof, but feel free to experiment.The Sazerac Company makes a great rye whiskey—Sazerac Rye Whiskey—that is a popular choice for Sazeracs, though it's not affiliated with the origin story of the Sazerac cocktail. We like Rittenhouse Rye, a bonded rye whiskey coming in at 100 proof, which adds a little extra stiffness against the backdrop of bitters and absinthe. Wild Turkey 101 will also treat you right.