Sazerac Cocktail Recipe (2024)

  • Whiskey

A timeless NOLA classic made from rye, absinthe, and Peychaud's bitters.

By

Paul Clarke

Paul Clarke

Paul Clarke blogs about cocktails at The Cocktail Chronicles and writes regularly on spirits and cocktails for Imbibe magazine. He lives in Seattle, where he works as a writer and magazine editor.

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Updated February 13, 2024

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Sazerac Cocktail Recipe (1)

Why It Works

  • Thoroughly chilling the glass in the freezer helps the absinthe or Herbsaint coat the interior surface (and keeps the cocktail cold as you sip it).
  • Rinsing the glass with absinthe or Herbsaint and then pouring out the excess—a novel cocktail mixing technique when the sazerac was first created—increases the olfactory perception of the anise-flavored liqueur without overwhelming the rye and bitters.
  • Stirring the cocktail with an ample amount of ice for 30 seconds results in a well-chilled drink at the perfect level of dilution.

In 1934, just after the end of prohibition, aNew Orleans pharmacist named J.M. Legendreintroduced a product designed to appeal to that city's residents' long-time taste for theanise-flavored absinthe,which had been banned in 1912.

Dubbed "Legendre Absinthe," the spirit—which, contrary to the label, was not an actual absinthe, but rather a wormwood-free substitute—quickly drew the attention of a disapproving federal government, who required him to change the name. Re-released asHerbsaint, the potent spirit has been produced ever since.

Sazerac Cocktail Recipe (2)

Except, asFlorence Fabricantonce recounted in theNew York Times, a few things have changed over the years. A favorite in cocktails such as theSazerac,Herbsaint was sold to the Sazerac Company(makers ofPeychaud's bittersand other spirits) in 1949, and its formula was adjusted, making the product a lower 90 proof and the flavor a heavier hit of oily star anise.

The return of absinthe to the market has renewed interest in the early Herbsaint, and with assistance from Houston-based Herbsaint collectorJay Hendrickson(profiled by Robert Simonson forImbibe),Sazerac released a version of Herbsaint made from the 1930s formula,complete with a label based on the original.

I had a taste of this new-but-old formulaand came away impressed. Like other absinthe substitutes such as Pernod and Ricard, the 1949 version of Herbsaint had a flavor heavy with star anise (which closely resembles black licorice),but also a sharp, crisp finish, which made it a useful cocktail ingredient.

The vintage-styled Herbsaint, however, has a more gentle, floral anise flavor mixed with anherbaceous complexity,and bottled at 100 proof, it offers a more potent delivery of flavor that could prove especially useful in New Orleans classics such as aCocktail à la Louisiane. Absinthe is now a staple in my liquor cabinet for many such drinks, but with a flavor that's strikingly similar to classic absinthes and being reasonably priced, this Herbsaint replica has earned a spot at the bar. I especially like the old-timey version in a Sazerac.

Credited as being among the first true cocktails, the Sazerac is a New Orleans original. As stiff as they come, it combines rye, absinthe, and Peychaud's bitters and is served, unusually, in a rocks glass without ice. One sip of its hazy, lusty character tells you everything you need to know about living the good life.

July 2007

Recipe Details

Sazerac Cocktail

Prep5 mins

Active3 mins

Total5 mins

Serves1 serving

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon sugar

  • 3 or 4 dashes Peychaud's Bitters

  • A few drops water

  • 2 ounces rye whiskey (such as Sazerac Rye)

  • 1 teaspoonHerbsaint, Pernod, pastis, or absinthe

  • Lemon peel

Directions

  1. Chill an old fashioned glass or small tumbler in your freezer.

    Sazerac Cocktail Recipe (3)

  2. In a mixing glass, combine sugar, Peychaud’s Bitters, and a few drops of water. Mix until sugar is dissolved, and add rye. Add plenty of ice, and stir for about 30 seconds.

    Sazerac Cocktail Recipe (4)

  3. Pour Herbsaint, pastis, or absinthe into your chilled glass, and rotate glass until the inside is well coated; discard the excess. Strain the liquid from your mixing glass into the serving glass. Twist a piece of lemon peel over the drink. Indulge.

    Sazerac Cocktail Recipe (5)

Special Equipment

Mixing glass, cocktail strainer

Read More

  • Cocktail à la Louisiane
  • Vieux Carré
  • Ramos Fizz
  • The Serious Eats Guide to Essential Cocktail Techniques
  • Mata Hari Absinthe: The First Czech-Bohemian Absinthe on U.S. Market
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
166Calories
0g Fat
5g Carbs
0g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories166
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g0%
Saturated Fat 0g0%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 1mg0%
Total Carbohydrate 5g2%
Dietary Fiber 1g2%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 6mg32%
Calcium 7mg1%
Iron 0mg0%
Potassium 9mg0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Sazerac Cocktail Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can any bar make a Sazerac? ›

Virtually any bartender in New Orleans can make a sazerac without even glancing at a recipe. Order a sazerac in New Orleans and a well-meaning local will likely tell you how the city's official cocktail is also the world's first.

Do you shake or stir a Sazerac? ›

Stir it up—Sazerac experts insist on stirring the cocktail between 30 to 40 times after the whiskey is added to be sure the sugar cube dissolves completely. Take your time—Slowly swirl the absinth around the entire glass to be sure it's entirely coated before discarding.

What is the proper glass for a Sazerac? ›

Do not serve a Sazerac in a cocktail glass. Do serve your Sazerac neat, in a rocks glass that is large enough to accommodate some breathing room. Your drink will thank you as you swirl it in the glass. Do not drink your Sazerac in one gulp.

How was the original Sazerac made? ›

The Sazerac - The Original Recipe

Pack an Old-Fashioned glass with ice. In a second Old-Fashioned glass place a sugar cube and add 3 dashes of Peychaud's Bitters to it, then crush the sugar cube. Add the 1 1/2 ounces of Sazerac Rye Whiskey to the Peychaud's Bitters and sugar.

What's the hardest drink for a bartender to make? ›

What Is the Most Difficult Cocktail to Make?
  • Source. Ramos Gin Fizz. A frothy and creamy cocktail that demands vigorous shaking to achieve its characteristic texture. ...
  • Source. Sazerac. ...
  • Source. Mai Tai. ...
  • Source. Aviation. ...
  • Source. Bloody Mary. ...
  • Source. Pisco Sour. ...
  • Source. Zombie. ...
  • Source. Negroni Sbagliato.

What drink is similar to a Sazerac? ›

The Sazerac is probably the closest drink to an Old Fashioned, that isn't an Old Fashioned. So if you like one, bets are you'll like the other. A traditional Old Fashioned uses bourbon, while a Sazerac uses rye whisky which makes it more peppery. As breakers of tradition, we don't use either.

Do you drink Sazerac on rocks or up? ›

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!

Does Sazerac taste like Old Fashioned? ›

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.

Can you use bourbon in Sazerac? ›

The ingredients in a Sazerac Cocktail are bourbon, bitters, absinthe, simple syrup, and a lemon peel to garnish. Combined, the Sazerac ingredients make for a unique tasting experience.

Which cocktail uses Old Overholt? ›

Old Overholt cocktails, which can be named as the Whiskey sour, Manhattan, or Old Fashioned, might not be a strange term with a cocktail connoisseur. ...

What is a whiskey sipping glass called? ›

An Old Fashioned glass (aka rocks glass or whiskey tumbler) is the standard choice for serving whiskey drinks. These whisky glasses are typically 7 to 12 ounces in capacity and can be used to serve whiskey neat, on the rocks, or in whiskey cocktails.

What is an old fashioned cocktail glass called? ›

The old fashioned glass, otherwise known as the rocks glass, whiskey glass, and lowball glass (or simply lowball), is a short tumbler used for serving spirits, such as whisky, neat or with ice cubes ("on the rocks").

What does the word Sazerac mean? ›

sazerac in British English

(ˈsæzəˌræk ) noun. US. a mixed drink of whisky, Pernod, syrup, bitters, and lemon. Collins English Dictionary.

What is a fun fact about the Sazerac? ›

History of The Sazerac

They say he first served it to his fellow Masons after hours in an egg cup –a coquetier—a word that some insist morphed into “cocktail.” The name of the drink comes from Peychaud's favorite French brandy, Sazerac-de-Forge et fils.

What is the oldest cocktail in the world? ›

What was the first ever cocktail? Accounts differ, but most experts agree that the first cocktail was the Sazerac, a blend of whisky, absinthe, bitters and sugar. Created in New Orleans in the mid-1800s, this is one of the first cocktails recognisable by name and remains a favourite to this day.

Can any bar make a mocktail? ›

Can you ask the bartender to make a mocktail? Zero-proof cocktails are becoming mainstream. Many bars and restaurants now have non-alcoholic drinks directly on the menu. You can also ask the bartender to make you a mocktail if you don't see alcohol-free options on their menu.

What drinks can most bars make? ›

  • Martini.
  • Old Fashioned.
  • Mimosa.
  • Moscow Mule.
  • Cosmopolitan.
  • Bloody Mary.
  • ‍Aperol Spritz.
  • Whiskey Sour.

Can I create my own cocktail? ›

The basic formula for creating a cocktail is 2:1:1, says Burian. Add 2 parts alcohol, 1 part sweet, and 1 part sour to a shaker and shake the ingredients over ice. Strain into a glass with ice, then add your garnish. (If you want something a little lighter, check out these low-alcohol cocktail recipes.)

References

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