How to Make a Sazerac?
What are your first thoughts when you hear the words “New Orleans”? If you’re a cocktail aficionado, there’s no doubt the answer is Sazerac. Arguably the oldest cocktail in the world, this classic dates to the 1830s, and it’s Louisiana’s official cocktail.
If you’re on the lookout for the best Sazerac cocktail recipe, you’ve come to the right spot. In this article, we’ll share all you need to know to make your own Sazerac the traditional way. Plus, it’s so easy to make, it only takes you a few minutes. But first, let’s learn more about this timeless drink.
Ins and Outs of Sazerac
Many people believe that Sazerac was initially made with cognac. During the early 1800s, the French who populated New Orleans brought cognac along, and the spirit was prevalent in the city. A special cognac from the Sazerac Coffee House was called Sazerac-de-Forge-et-Fils, while the inventor of the bitter that goes with the cocktail, Antoine Peychaud, was a cognac enthusiast.
However, rye whiskey supplanted the French brandy over the next hundred years, becoming the main recipe ingredient. Regardless of the spread of rye whiskey as a substitute, there’s a special charm around the cognac version of the cocktail.
Rye gives the drink spicy notes, while cognac shifts the flavor towards a fruity side. Whichever version you go for, know that they’re both just as strong. You can test your Sazerac by making one with cognac and one with rye whiskey and see which one you like better.
In this article, we’ll stick with the traditional recipe that asks for Peychaud’s bitters made in Louisiana by the Sazerac Company. If you can’t find the Peychaud’s bitters, use some of your own favorites. However, we recommend sticking to Peychaud to get the most out of your cocktail.
Sazerac Recipe Ingredients
- Absinthe for rinsing the glass
- 2 ounces of cognac
- ½ ounce of simple syrup
- 3 dashes of Peychaud’s bitters
- Lemon peel for garnish
To make a simple syrup, put ½ cup of granulated sugar and ½ cup of water in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until you dissolve the sugar and let the mixture cool. If you don’t have time to make simple syrup, you can use sugar cubes instead and mix them with the rest of the ingredients.
Sazerac Recipe Instructions
Making the Sazerac is easy even for beginners, and preparation time is about five minutes.
Below are instructions on how to make a perfect Sazerac.
- Get an Old Fashioned or rocks glass and rinse it with absinthe.
- Fill the glass with crushed ice to keep the glass cold. Alternately, you can place the glass in the freezer for a while until it chills.
- Get a mixing glass and add cognac, bitters, simple syrup, and ice.
- Stir the ingredients until they’re well-chilled.
- Toss the ice and what’s left of the absinthe from the Old-Fashioned glass.
- Pour the cocktail into the glass.
- Twist lemon peel oil over the top of the cocktail.
- Use the peel for garnish.
Mastering Sazerac
A symbol of New Orleans and the whole state of Louisiana, Sazerac is an all-time favorite for many mixologists. If you never tried it before, now’s the right time. Just follow the recipe to the letter, as the cocktail is all about the process. And a last piece of advice, try your best not to substitute the Peychaud’s bitters.
