Sazerac co*cktail Recipe (2024)

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By Shawn Williams

4.50 from 2 votes

Apr 12, 2018, Updated Mar 05, 2024

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The Sazerac is a classic whiskey co*cktail originating in New Orleans’ French Quarter in the mid-1800s. The Sazerac is spirit-forward with herbal notes and a fresh citrus aroma! If you’re a whiskey lover, this co*cktail is for you!

Sazerac co*cktail Recipe (2)

Table of Contents

  • Why This Recipe Works
  • Ingredients
  • How to Make a Sazerac co*cktail
  • Expert Tips
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Whiskey co*cktails
  • Sazerac co*cktail Recipe

Why This Recipe Works

The Sazerac co*cktail recipe is an interesting combo of rye whiskey (I like Sazerac Rye), sugar (simple syrup), absinthe, Peychaud bitters, and lemon peel. Peychaud’s bitters give the co*cktail its signature reddish hue and somewhat floral aroma. The co*cktail drinks like a spicy and floral Old Fashioned co*cktail with deep notes of fresh citrus.

If you enjoyed this co*cktail, also try the Scofflaw co*cktail, Brooklyn co*cktail, and Improved Whiskey co*cktail.

Ingredients

  • Rye whiskey: I prefer Sazerac Rye because it’s solid and affordable. Michters, George Dickle, and Rittenhouse are all great options.
  • Simple sugar: a 50-50 mix of water and sugar by weight. If you don’t have a scale, use 1 cup of water per 1 cup of sugar.
  • Peychaud’s bitters: Peychaud bitters are red in appearance and offer an anise-forward, licorice-like flavor. These are critical to the signature flavor of the co*cktail and should not be substituted.
  • Angostura bitters: some recipes omit Angostura however I like to use a combination.
  • Absinthe: Absinthe is not mandatory but it does enhance the co*cktail flavor, adding additional anise flavor. Any Absinthe you can find should do the trick. A bottle will last years.
  • Lemon peel: lemon peel adds a burst of citrus flavor and aroma. It’s equally important as the Peychaud bitters. Rather than garnishing the drink, the peel should be discarded after expressing the oils.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities below.

How to Make a Sazerac co*cktail

Step 1.

Start with a chilled or frozen double old-fashioned glass. The sazerac is served straight up with no ice. A chilled glass will keep your drink cool for longer. To quickly chill a glass, fill it with ice and water and stir.

Step 2.

The sazerac starts with what’s called an absinthe rinse. Pour a bar spoon of absinthe into your serving glass and twirl it around to coat the entire interior of the glass. Discard the rest or take a swig.

Quick Tip

For an easier absinthe rinse, fill a mini co*cktail spray bottle and mist the absinthe into the glass. This works well and doesn’t waste any absinthe.

Step 3.

Combine all remaining ingredients (except the lemon peel) in a mixing glass and vigorously stir with plenty of ice. Strain into the absinthe-coated glass.

Step 4.

Finish with oil of a lemon peel. Point the outer peel (non-pith side) outward facing the Sazerac and gently squeeze the edges so the oils spray out over the top of the drink. If done properly, you can see an oily film floating on the surface of your co*cktail. The aroma should hit your nose as you sip. Discard the peel.

Sazerac co*cktail Recipe (3)

Expert Tips

  • Mostwhiskey co*cktails should be stirred rather than shaken, this prevents over-dilution and the introduction of too much oxygen.
  • Place your glasses in the freezer to keep them chilled. This helps keep your drinks cooler for longer.
  • Use a vegetable peeler to peel the lemon peel. This makes the task simple and ensures you don’t remove too much pith.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make the sazerac with bourbon?

While rye whiskey is traditional, you may substitute bourbon if you prefer.

How different is the sazerac from the old fashioned?

The Sazerac is very similar to the Old Fashioned co*cktail, however the Sazerac has pronounced anise notes from the Peychaud bitters and Absinthe. The Sazerac is also served chilled without ice.

Does Absinthe make you hallucinate?

All absinthe in the United States is made “thujone free”, which is known to have psychoactive effects.

More Whiskey co*cktails

Brooklyn co*cktail Recipe

Scofflaw co*cktail Recipe

Old Fashioned co*cktail Recipe

Enjoy this recipe? If you made this co*cktail, please leave a ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ star rating in the recipe card below & areview in the comments!

4.50 from 2 votes

Sazerac co*cktail Recipe

By: Shawn Williams

Servings: 1 co*cktail

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Total: 5 minutes mins

Save

Sazerac co*cktail Recipe (8)

The official co*cktail of New Orleans. The Sazerac is made with rye, sugar, Peychaud’s bitters, absinthe, and lemon peel.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces rye whiskey, Sazerac Rye
  • 1/4 ounce simple sugar
  • 4 dashes of Peychaud’s bitters
  • 2 dash Angostura bitters
  • Absinthe rinse
  • Lemon peel

Instructions

  • Start with a chilled or frozen double old-fashioned glass. The sazerac is served straight up with no ice. A chilled glass will keep your drink cool for longer.To quickly chill a glass, fill it with ice and water and stir.

  • The sazerac starts with what’s called anabsinthe rinse.Pour a bar spoon of absinthe into your serving glass and twirl it around to coat the entire interior of the glass. Discard the rest or take a swig. The other option is to buy amini co*cktail spray bottleand mist the absinthe into the glass. This works well and doesn’t waste any absinthe.

  • Combine all remaining ingredients (except the lemon peel) in a mixing glass and vigorously stir with plenty of ice. Strain into the absinthe-coated glass.

  • Finish with oil of a lemon peel.Point the outer peel (non-pith side) outward facing the Sazerac and gently squeeze the edges so the oils spray out over the top of the drink. If done properly, you can see an oily film floating on the surface of your co*cktail. The aroma should hit your nose as you sip.

Notes

Mostwhiskey co*cktails should be stirred rather than shaken, this prevents over-dilution and the introduction of too much oxygen.

Place your glasses in the freezer to keep them chilled. This helps keep your drinks cooler for longer.

Use a vegetable peeler to peel the lemon peel. This makes the task simple and ensures you don’t remove too much pith.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 131kcalCarbohydrates: 9.5gSodium: 103mgSugar: 3g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: co*cktail

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @kitchenswagger or tag #kitchenswagger!

About Shawn Williams

My name is Shawn, author behind Kitchen Swagger. I'm a food & drink enthusiast bringing you my own simple and delicious restaurant-inspired recipes.

Read More About Me

Sazerac co*cktail 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 co*cktail is also the world's first.

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 is the proper glass for a Sazerac? ›

Do not serve a Sazerac in a co*cktail 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.

What is a substitute for cognac in a Sazerac? ›

The Sazerac co*cktail recipe has changed significantly over time. This drink once contained a base of cognac, but this was substituted with rye whiskey after the American Civil War when cognac became hard to source.

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

Probably the most difficult co*cktail recipe to make and every bartender hates it - the RAMOS GIN FIZZ 🍸 60ml / 2oz Gin 15ml / 0.5oz Lemon Juice 15ml / 0.5oz Lime Juice 30ml / 1oz Heavy Cream 1 Dash Orange Blossom Water One Fresh Egg White Soda Water To Top - Shake all ingredients except soda water hard with one large ...

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.

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 the oldest co*cktail in the world? ›

What was the first ever co*cktail? Accounts differ, but most experts agree that the first co*cktail 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 co*cktails recognisable by name and remains a favourite to this day.

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 “co*cktail.” The name of the drink comes from Peychaud's favorite French brandy, Sazerac-de-Forge et fils.

Which co*cktail uses Old Overholt? ›

Old Overholt co*cktails, which can be named as the Whiskey sour, Manhattan, or Old Fashioned, might not be a strange term with a co*cktail connoisseur. ...

Is a sazerac chilled? ›

Sazeracs are notably not chilled before serving, but they are served in chilled glasses. Place the glasses in which you plan to serve the drink in the freezer. If you have one, fill a small atomizer with absinthe. For each drink, spritz the glass lightly with absinthe.

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 co*cktails.

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.

Is Sazerac the same as Buffalo Trace? ›

Buffalo Trace Distillery is a distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, United States, owned by the Sazerac Company.

What cognac is best for Sazerac? ›

10 Best Cognacs For A Sazerac
  • Try a top VS and pour Seignette. ...
  • VSOP perfection from H by Hine VSOP Cognac. ...
  • Hennessy XO is a popular for good reason. ...
  • Splurge on Frapin Château Fontpinot XO. ...
  • Frapin 1270, family-owned since 1270. ...
  • Try Jean-Luc Pasquet 04, one of the few organic Cognacs. ...
  • For something super unexpected, try Kelt XO.
Mar 31, 2023

Can any bar make a mocktail? ›

Can you ask the bartender to make a mocktail? Zero-proof co*cktails 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.

Can I create my own co*cktail? ›

The basic formula for creating a co*cktail 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 co*cktail recipes.)

What co*cktails do most bars make? ›

Top co*cktails List
  1. Old Fashioned. Just as the name suggests, the Bourbon Old Fashioned is quite an old drink. ...
  2. Negroni. ...
  3. Daiquiri. ...
  4. Dry Martini. ...
  5. Margarita. ...
  6. Espresso Martini. ...
  7. Whiskey Sour. ...
  8. Manhattan.
Oct 24, 2023

Is a Sazerac a common co*cktail? ›

For decades, the Sazerac was primarily a New Orleans drink, and even today, it's regarded as the official co*cktail of Louisiana. But it has proliferated during the modern co*cktail era, and now it can be found in bars all over the world.

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