Sazerac

When in New Orleans or anytime you’re in the mood for a tasty variation of an Old-Fashioned, have a SAZERAC.  You’ll be choosing a rye whiskey & bitters cocktail with absinthe accents.  It’s dry and it has muscle, spice and depth from the preferred Sazerac Rye, tempered by sugar and lemon. Any quality rye whiskey works. Some like to switch out rye for the sweeter bourbon while others like to mix rye with cognac or brandy.  Still, the mix below is fairly loyal to what has become the official cocktail of New Orleans.

Requirements: rye whiskey (Sazerac preferred), absinthe (or Pernod), Peychaud’s bitters, Angostura bitters, sugar (or Cocktail & Sons Spiced Demerara syrup, or simple syrup), 2 lemon peels

• 2 oz. rye whiskey
• .75 oz. absinthe (Pernod)
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 3 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
• 1 teaspoon sugar (or 1 tsp Spiced Demerara syrup or simple syrup)
• lemon peel for garnish

Rinse a chilled rocks glass with absinthe & ice and set aside. In a mixing glass, stir together bitters with sugar (or Demerara/ simple syrup) and a lemon peel. Add rye whisky, fill with ice and stir until well chilled. Empty the absinthe-chilled rocks glass of all ice and absinthe. Strain mixing glass components into rocks glass. Express the lemon peel over the mix, rub the glass rim and drop into the Old-Fashioned glass.

History: The Sazerac company trademarked their Old-Fashioned under their name in 1900, which is a nice marketing arrangement, but sometimes very limiting to bartenders and drinkers alike.

Similar Cocktails:

Old-Fashioned – https://keetscocktails.com/old-fashioned-2/

Peychaud’s Manhattan – https://keetscocktails.com/peychauds-manhattan/

Bensonhurst – https://keetscocktails.com/bensonhurst/

Old Pal – https://keetscocktails.com/old-pal/