sazerac

The Sazerac is a local variation of a whiskey cocktail originally from New Orleans, named for the Sazerac de Forge et Fils brand of cognac brandy that served as its original main ingredient. The drink is most traditionally a combination of cognac or rye whiskey, absinthe, Peychaud's Bitters, and sugar. Some claim it is the oldest known American cocktail.

Photo of sazerac by  Johann Trasch

Photo by Johann Trasch, licensed under the Unsplash License

Ingredients

  • 5 cl cognac
  • 1 cl absinth
  • 1 sugar cube
  • 2 dashes peychaud's bitters

Garnish: lemon peel

Recipe

  1. rinse a chilled old-fashioned glass with the absinthe, add crushed ice, and set it aside.

  2. stir the remaining ingredients over ice and set it aside.

  3. discard the ice and any excess absinthe from the prepared glass, and strain the drink into the glass.

  4. add the lemon peel for garnish.