Sazerac

 


Sazerac is a cognac or whiskey based cocktail primarily, mixed locally at New Orleans. It is regarded as a variation of one of the oldest known cocktails of USA. The Sazerac cocktail had been named after the cognac, Sazerac de Forge et Fils which is the main ingredient for the Sazerac recipe.
Sazerac is a combination of rye whiskey, cognac, absinthe as well as a few drops of Peychaud's Bitters. It is served in an old fashioned glass with a twist of lemon as the only garnishing. The cocktail of Sazerac is drunk straight up as a custom.
The Sazerac cocktail is believed to have become popular before the Civil War in New Orleans of the Louisiana State. However, the name of Sazerac drink has been mentioned in print earlier as well.

 


History Of The Sazerac Cocktail


Sewell T. Taylor is credited as the first importer of Sazerac-de-Forge et Fils cognac in America. This occurred in 1850 and the Sazerac House began selling the "Sazerac Cocktail around the same time. The main ingredient was changed to rye whiskey on account of the grape epidemic in France in the 1870s. The Sazerac recipe underwent a lot of alterations with the first printed version of the Sazerac Cocktail calling for the Selnar bitters instead of the Peychaud's. Antoine Amadie Peychaud, a local druggist belonging to New Orleans was also credited to have created the Sazerac byfollowing an old family Sazerac recipe.

 


Ingredients And Popular Sazerac Recipe


There have been a number of popular recipes for preparing the Sazerac. The most popular Sazerac recipe involves the mixing of the drink in a tall glass with absinthe or any other anise flavored liquor. Common variations used instead of the absinthe may include Absente, green Chartreuse, Pernod and the locally available Herbsaint.
The modern version of the Sazerac recipe consists of sugar cube, Sazerac Rye Whiskey, Peychaud's Bitters and Herbsaint to be mixed together and served with a twist of lemon. The method of mixing the drink is particularly complex and requires meticulous attention to the details of pouring the rye whiskey combined with the bitters into a Herbsaint coated glass.

 


Sazerac Variations


Both cognac and rye whiskey are used interchangeably for preparing a Sazerac drink. There are also a variety of variations and recipes very similar to this popular drink.
• Old Fashioned Bourbon- A mixture of bitters, sugar cubes, water, orange and Maraschino Cherry added to Bourbon whiskey.

• Rusty Nail- A combination of Scotch and Drambuie whiskey served with lemon peels.

• Egg Nog- Contains Bourbon, cognac, cream and a sprinkling of nutmeg powder together with salt.

 


Nutritional Facts Of Sazerac


A single serving of the Sazerac consists of 142 calories with most of it obtained from carbohydrates. The amount of sugar is quite high in the alcohol based drink too and it has no dietary fibers, minerals or vitamins added to it.

 


Sazerac: Trivia


• The Senate declared Sazerac as the official cocktail of New Orleans, Louisiana on 23rd June 2008.

• It is also the name of a brand of rye whiskey produced by the Sazerac Company.