Sazerac
Fans of our Old Fashioned have been asking after this drink, and I am happy to oblige in offering the signature drink of New Orleans.
The Sazerac is a contender for oldest American cocktail, with its creation being ascribed to Antonine Peychaud, a druggist working in mid-19th century New Orleans. The name “Sazerac” most likely derives from the brand of Cognac which formed the base spirit in the original cocktail, in addition to receiving a wash of absinthe and dashes of Peychaud’s eponymous patent bitters. The drink would sometimes be ordered with other spirits, based on want or availability. Herbsaint is a local product to the state of Louisiana and this liquor came to replace absinthe as it became harder to get.
If you enjoy an Old Fashioned or Dry Manhattan I think you will appreciate the pairing of rye whiskey with the herbal anisette sweetness of Herbsaint, which is balanced by the presence of Cognac. A traditional Sazerac will contain either rye or Cognac, but I use a 3:2 ratio of the spirits to provide a more balanced experience, and I cut the sweetness with lemon twist garnish directly into the drink.
