Sazerac co*cktail Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between an Old Fashioned and a Sazerac? ›

The Sazerac could be considered a close relative of the Old Fashioned. Indeed, each contain similar ingredients, albeit with slight variations. An Old Fashioned contains Bourbon, while the Sazerac favors rye whiskey. Both contain sugar and bitters, but a traditional Old Fashioned tends to use Angostura bitters.

Pack an old-fashioned glass with ice. In a second old-fashioned glass place the sugar cube and add the Peychaud's Bitters to it, then crush the sugar cube. Add the Sazerac Rye Whiskey or Buffalo Trace Bourbon to the second glass containing the Peychaud's Bitters and sugar.

The absinthe is only used for a glass rinse, so you just need a tiny bit, but if you can't find it or don't want to invest so heavily in a bottle, you could substitute Pernod, anisette, or ouzo. The bitters that are used for a classic Sazerac are Peychaud's.

Buffalo Trace Distillery is a distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, United States, owned by the Sazerac Company. It has historically been known by several names, including the George T. Stagg Distillery and the Old Fashioned Copper (O.F.C.)

The Old Fashioned is known to traditionally call on bourbon as its base, while the modern Sazerac favors rye whiskey. Bourbon tends to be sweeter, while the rye offers a more peppery profile. The reason this choice works so well for the Sazerac has to do with the drink's absinthe rinse.

Widely considered America's first mixed drink, the Sazerac is easily one of New Orleans' most iconic co*cktails. Whether you prefer rye whiskey, cognac or bourbon, no Sazerac is complete without absinthe, Peychaud's Bitters and a twist of lemon.

In 2008, the state of Louisiana passed legislation that made the Sazerac co*cktail the official co*cktail of New Orleans. It’s a fitting tribute to the drink that arguably started the co*cktail movement throughout the United States.

Sazeracs are served up, i.e. not on ice, but in a rocks glass which is fairly unusual. It's quite nice though, because if you have any cute glasses which are too small for Old Fashioneds, now is their time to shine! Prepare a small coin of lemon peel.

Because of its popularity, the Temperance League lobbied against absinthe due to the high rate of alcohol related crime and false claims that it made you hallucinate or “go crazy” (which it did not). Absinthe was banned in most of Europe between 1905 and 1910, and the United States followed in 1912.

These brands are considered as "thujone-free". So basically the legalization of Absinthe in the US is a matter of a higher tolerance level of thujone. But thujone is not the most important thing about Absinthe. The green liquor should be consumed for other reasons: It has a long tradition and a very fascinating ritual.

What is the illegal ingredient in absinthe? ›

Wormwood contains a psychoactive compound called thujone that's long been linked to its purported hallucinogenic properties. In fact, absinthe is often defined by two time periods: “preban” and “postban” (i.e., before and after the absinthe ban).

The famed Sazerac Coffee House was founded in New Orleans in 1850 and soon became known as the home of “America's First co*cktail,” the Sazerac. Using rye whiskey (in place of French brandy), a dash of Peychaud's Bitters, and Herbsaint, what eventually became the official co*cktail of New Orleans was created.

Because of this, New Orleans's own Sazerac is widely considered the world's first co*cktail, as it's the oldest known co*cktail that can be recognized by name.