The Sazerac: some say the oldest, and we say the best, cocktail of them all, from New Orleans to the World (and beyond1).
Most experts agree that the first cocktail was the Sazerac, a blend of whisky, absinthe, bitters and sugar, created in New Orleans in the early-1800s. Antoine Amedie Peychaud was the New Orleans apothecary who mixed cognac with his proprietary Peychaud’s Bitters to create what became known as the Sazerac when it became the signature drink of the Sazerac Coffee House in the city’s Exchange Alley. In those mid-1800s, the cocktail revolved around a base of Sazerac de Forge et Fils brandy, but since then, the Sazerac has evolved into a wonderful smooth template for a whisk(e)y cocktail to showcase the bartender’s skill.
The mission, if you choose to accept it, is to challenge bartenders around the world to serve their best take on this most classic of cocktails. The Sazerac Challenge is to seek out the best Sazeracs, however the bartender chooses to mix it, and bring them to your attention.
The Liquid Sunshine preference is for a fifty-fifty whiskey and cognac cocktail with a rinse of absinthe and two types of bitters, but we always accept the recommendation of the bartender as to the mixing.
The contenders
Join us as we enjoy a classic Sazerac mixed in some of the worlds best bars – the Gritti Palace in Venice, the Manhattan Bar in Singapore; as we explore that galaxy-hopping Kanar Sazerac of cognac and Fernet-Branca in Bokan, London; as we indulge in wonderful Scotch varietals like the Glenmorangie 12 year old and Hennessy Sherry Cask Cognac Sazerac from the Gate in Glasgow’s Gallowgate; and as we relax at the end of the day into Liquid Sunshine’s absolute personal favourite Sazerac in the Luggage Room in London.
The Sazerac is a timeless cocktail with a simple recipe that can be taken in many directions, ingredients may vary, but a great Sazerac will always be one of the most well-balanced cocktails you ever taste. No wonder the Lousiana Legislature declared the Sazerac the official cocktail of New Orleans in 2008.
To get you in the mood, here are some tasty teasers from London, Venice, Amsterdam, Nice, Aspen, Glasgow and Berlin. See how many you recognise.
- The Kanar Sazerac travels the galaxy in Star Trek – boldy going where no cocktail has gone before. ↩︎