What does a Sazerac taste like?
A Sazerac tastes strong, spicy and aromatic: rye whiskey with a little sugar and anise-flavored Peychaud's bitters, in a glass rinsed with absinthe, with a twist of lemon peel.
Sazerac
rye, anise and lemon peel
The Sazerac is New Orleans' signature cocktail. It's rye whiskey, a sugar cube and Peychaud's bitters, stirred and strained into a chilled glass that's been rinsed with absinthe, then served with no ice and a twist of lemon peel. The first thing you notice is the smell: licorice from the absinthe and bright lemon oil. Then the rye comes through, spicy and dry, softened by a little sugar. Peychaud's adds a red-fruit, anise flavor that's lighter than Angostura. It's strong and slow, like a perfumed old fashioned.
Where you’ll see it
On classic cocktail lists and every bar in New Orleans, served neat in a short glass with a lemon peel. Some bars offer a cognac version or a half rye, half cognac split.
Order it if you like an old fashioned and enjoy a hint of licorice.
Quick questions
- Does a Sazerac taste like licorice?
- A bit. The absinthe rinse and Peychaud's bitters both add anise, but it is a whisper on top of the rye, not the main flavor.
- What's the difference between a Sazerac and an old fashioned?
- Both are whiskey, sugar and bitters. A Sazerac uses rye, Peychaud's bitters and an absinthe rinse, with no ice, so it is spicier and more aromatic.