Sazerac Cocktail

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

Overhead view of a Sazerac with Mardi Gras beads

Serious Eats / Two Bites

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, a New Orleans pharmacist named J.M. Legendre introduced a product designed to appeal to that city's residents' long-time taste for the anise-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 as Herbsaint, the potent spirit has been produced ever since.

A vintage black, white, and orange label for Herbsaint liqueur from New Orleans.

Serious Eats / Cocktail Enthusiast

Except, as Florence Fabricant once recounted in the New York Times, a few things have changed over the years. A favorite in cocktails such as the Sazerac, Herbsaint was sold to the Sazerac Company (makers of Peychaud's bitters and 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 collector Jay Hendrickson (profiled by Robert Simonson for Imbibe), 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 formula and 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 an herbaceous 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 a Cocktail 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

Prep 5 mins
Active 3 mins
Total 5 mins
Serves 1 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 teaspoon Herbsaint, Pernod, pastis, or absinthe

  • Lemon peel

Directions

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

    Side view of frosted glass

    Serious Eats / Two Bites

  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.

    Four image collage of mixing bitters, sugar, rye and ice

    Serious Eats / Two Bites

  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.

    Four image collage of swirling class with absinthe, pouring off absinthe, adding rye mixture and twisting a lemon

    Serious Eats / Two Bites

Special Equipment

Mixing glass, cocktail strainer

Read More

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
166 Calories
0g Fat
5g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 166
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 5g 2%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 6mg 32%
Calcium 7mg 1%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 9mg 0%
*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.)