Cocktail

Sazerac

The Sazerac is New Orleans signature whiskey cocktail — a spirit-forward, anise-scented sipper served neat in a chilled rocks glass that has been rinsed with absinthe. Built on rye whiskey, a sugar cube and the city's own Peychauds bitters, it is one of the oldest American cocktails and the official cocktail of New Orleans, instantly recognisable by its amber colour, its haunting absinthe perfume and the bright twist of lemon over the top.

Balanced32% ABV

At a glance

Signature

Anise & Vanilla

Woody

Strength

Spirituous

32% ABV

Bracing, dry and spirit-forward with barely any sweetness, deep amber in the glass and a long warming finish. The absinthe rinse gives a haunting anise and liquorice perfume, the rye lends vanilla and spicy oak with a peppery cinnamon-clove edge, Peychauds bitters add a rooty gentian backbone, and an expressed lemon peel snaps brightly across the top. At around 30 to 35 percent ABV in the glass the alcohol carries real warmth and pungency under the aromatics.

Taste balance

SweetnessMedium

DrySweet

AciditySoft

SoftTart

BitternessMedium

SmoothBitter

StrengthStrong

LightStrong

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