Sazerac is a similar drink to the old fashioned but with a unique twist on the ingredients. It's a classic drink that's dated back to the mid-1800s and it tends to include either rye whiskey or cognac, as well as bitters, a sweetener, and absinthe. In fact, Sazeracs are customizable drinks, so you might find some variations that include bourbon, brandy, or other sweeteners.
Due to the wide variation in Sazerac cocktails and how they're made, understanding the basics is essential if you want to enjoy one of these drinks. Plus, you need to have the right booze, which is why we always recommend Sazerac de Forge & Fils Cognac.
This article covers what Sazerac is, how you can drink it, and of course, where you can find it. Read on to learn more.
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Sazerac de Forge & Fils Cognac
When you want to enjoy a classic Sazerac, you can't go wrong with Sazerac de Forge & Fils. Named in honor of the brand’s roots, it dates back to 1782 and has plenty of rich, floral, and even creamy flavor notes. Sazerac de Forge & Fils even exotic spices and a long natural finish that will have you coming back for more. Plus, it's bottled at 94 proof, which is 47% ABV. Therefore, it has plenty of kick and enough smoothness to be the ideal sipping cognac for a Sazerac cocktail.
What makes this cognac special is how it's made. This specific blend is made from a variety of rare and native grapes that date back more than 150 years – even before the Phylloxera epidemic that changed the cognac-making process forever. The result is a blend of cognacs that have been aged for between 50 and 75 years and a classic taste you won't find anywhere else.
The Sazerac Cocktail: An Introduction
Sazerac is a cocktail that was introduced during the 1800s in New Orleans, Louisiana. It's a sweet cocktail that shares many traits with the old fashioned but with a unique twist.
While the first iterations of the Sazerac included cognac, bitters, and absinthe, modern variations may change some of these ingredients. So, many Sazeracs will include rye whiskey or brandy instead of cognac.
What makes the Sazerac a good cocktail is how it's enjoyed. It's a classic drink and you'll know one is being made when a bartender sets aside two separate bourbon glasses.
One glass will be washed with absinthe, and the other will contain a mixture of the other ingredients. Then, the absinthe is removed and the contents of the other glass are added to the glass that housed the absinthe. Then, voila, you have a Sazerac.
Due to their sweetness, Sazeracs tend to be enjoyed during or after dinner, but mostly as an after-dinner drink. However, the liquor used in the drink can change when and how it's enjoyed.
For example, a Sazerac made with rye whiskey might be spicier, so it's more common to see them being enjoyed alone or during meals. On the other hand, Sazeracs made with cognac or brandy are much sweeter, and usually enjoyed after dinner.
That said, if you want to experience the taste of an original Sazerac, we always recommend going with a cognac liquor as the base, and the best liquor for this cocktail is Sazerac de Forge & Fils Cognac. Overall, it will help you make one of the more historically accurate Sazeracs you can find.
What Is the Alcohol Content of a Sazerac?
The alcohol content of a Sazerac can range from 70 proof to more than 100 proof, which is 35% or 50% alcohol. This wide range of alcohol content is due to the types of liquor that can be used in the drink.
Sazeracs that use brandy, for example, tend to be less potent than Sazeracs that are made with rye whiskey. The alcohol content really comes down to the type of liquor in the cocktail.
A great example is the Sazerac de Forge & Fils Cognac that you can use for a classic Sazerac cocktail. It's 47% ABV, which is 94 proof.
What Is the History of the Sazerac?
Sazerac has a vast history that may shock you, and it all started in the 1850s when Sewell T. Taylor sold his bar in New Orleans. The bar was called Merchants Exchange Coffee House, but he closed this venture and began importing a special brand of cognac known as Sazerac-de-Forge et Fils, which is named for the region it’s from.
Meanwhile, Aaron Bird began to run the Merchants Exchange Coffee House, and legend has it that he started to serve Taylor’s imported cognac. To make the first iteration of the Sazerac cocktail, Bird served the Sazerac-de-Forge et Fils cognac with bitters from Antoine Amedie Peychaud, which was a local apothecary.
While the original drink was likely served with cognac, this changed when Thomas Handy took over the Merchants Exchange Coffee House in the 1870s. He switched things up to rye whiskey due to the phylloxera epidemic that devastated several vineyards in France that produced cognac.
While Handy died in the 1890s, he did record the recipe, which is how the first iterations of the Sazerac as we know it today were born. In fact, there are even entire liquors named after this tradition, like the Sazerac de Forge & Fils Cognac. This cognac house was founded all the way back in 1782, so it even predates the Sazerac cocktail.
Where Is the Sazerac From?
Sazerac is from multiple places, especially if you go back far enough in the cocktail’s history. For example, you can date Sazerac back to its roots from the French Sazerac-de-Forge et Fils cognac.
Whichever way you look at it, Sazerac is from the city of New Orleans. While the drink is still popular in New Orleans to this day, it's also made its way out of the region. Now, you shouldn't have any problems finding it across the United States.
When Was the Sazerac Created?
Sazerac was created in the 1800s. However, it's hard to pinpoint exactly when it was made.
While Sewell T. Taylor is credited with creating its first iterations from Sazerac-de-Forge et Fils cognac in the 1800s, the Sazerac as we know it today didn't come until the late 1800s, This is when Thomas Handy wrote the cocktail recipe down. For these reasons, we tend to just say that it came to be during the late 19th century.
What Ingredients Are in a Sazerac?
Sazerac is a simple cocktail that's made with only a few ingredients but there are a few variations. The most common type of Sazerac is made with rye whiskey, bitters, and sugar.
Absinthe is also used, but only to rinse a separate glass. A splash of water and a lemon garnish are also common ingredients to find in a Sazerac. Additionally, some people may choose simple sugar instead of traditional sugar.
The other variations of Sazerac replace the rye whiskey with brandy or cognac. In these variations, the other ingredients tend to remain the same. However, variations of the sweetener and garnish are common when using brandy or cognac to make a Sazerac.
How Much Does a Sazerac Usually Cost?
The cost of Sazerac varies based on how and where it's made. If you want to make a Sazerac at home, you'll have to purchase rye whiskey, cognac, or brandy. Bottles of this liquor vary in price based on the quality, so expect to pay around $40 to $100 for a bottle suitable for a good Sazerac.
Bitters will cost around $12 to $20 depending on the type and quality, and sugar is only a few bucks. You can also swap the sugar for other sweeteners to save on calories. You'll also have to purchase a lemon for garnish if you like one, which shouldn't cost more than a few bucks.
If you plan on purchasing a Sazerac while you're at a bar or restaurant, it should cost around $10 to $15. This depends on the quality of the liquor used. In some nice restaurants or bars, it may cost more than $20.
What Is the Best Way to Enjoy a Sazerac?
The best way to enjoy a Sazerac is how it is typically made. You don't have to add anything to Sazerac because it's already a cocktail. While it's mostly liquor, the other ingredients make it a delicious and sweet liquor that you can sip and enjoy. So, we recommend sipping it instead of taking shots or adding it to another cocktail. For example, if you enjoy cognac, you can enjoy the Sazerac de Forge & Fils Cognac straight out of the bottle.
As for when to enjoy a Sazerac, we recommend having one before or after dinner. It's not refreshing enough to wash down a nice meal, but it makes for a great starter or nightcap. However, you can also enjoy a Sazerac at a bar or anywhere else that serves them.
Many people love to enjoy a Sazerac as a dessert drink. If you use cognac or brandy instead of rye whiskey, you get a sweeter drink that's perfect for sipping alongside sweet desserts.
How to Choose a Good Sazerac
Choosing a good Sazerac comes down to choosing the right liquor and high-quality ingredients; this starts with choosing the right liquor for the cocktail, which is Sazerac de Forge & Fils Cognac. It's the perfect cognac base for a delicious, sweet, and smooth Sazerac cocktail.
If you want a Sazerac that knocks your socks off, the quality of the ingredients won't be as important. On the other hand, if you want a Sazerac you can sip for a while after dinner to wind down, you might want to choose a higher quality liquor that's smooth enough for you to enjoy.
When choosing a Sazerac, you also have to consider your preferences. A good Sazerac for you might be made with rye whiskey, while a good Sazerac for someone else might be made with brandy or cognac. Make sure you consider your palate and the types of liquor you prefer before choosing a Sazerac.
Your choice of bitters, sweeteners, and other ingredients will also influence the quality of a Sazerac.
Where Can You Find a Sazerac?
Sazerac can be found in most restaurants and bars. Ultimately, it comes down to the bartender knowing how to make the drink because most ingredients are common in bars. You can also find some pre-made options in liquor stores or online, but this is rare.
While it's hard to find pre-made Sazerac online, because it's a cocktail, that doesn't mean you can't find the ingredients to make it online or in your local liquor store.
Sazerac FAQs
Have more questions about Sazeracs? We answer the most commonly asked questions below.
Is Sazerac the Oldest Cocktail?
We can't confirm that Sazerac is the oldest cocktail because there could have been much older ones in ancient civilizations. We bet the Ancient Romans and Greeks were sipping something good.
However, many people refer to the Sazerac as one of the first cocktails, since you can trace its lineage back to the mid-1800s. Plus, the glasses you drink it out of, coquetier cups, sound awfully similar to “cocktail.”
Can You Drink Sazerac Straight?
Yes, you can drink Sazerac straight. In fact, Sazerac is just an enhanced type of whiskey, bourbon, or brandy. You should only drink it this way, otherwise you’re not really having a Sazerac.
Still, you can always add other ingredients or further alter the consistency of the drink to fit your needs. When we say straight, we also mean it's not something you'll find sold in a bottle or anything like that, unless it's a pre-made cocktail.
What's the Difference Between a Sazerac and an Old Fashioned?
The main difference between a Sazerac and an old fashioned is the fact that a Sazerac is made with rye whiskey, brandy, or cognac. An old fashioned is made with bourbon whiskey.
The garnishes used also tend to differ; old fashioneds tend to have an orange, whereas Sazeracs tend to have a lemon instead.
Enjoy a Sazerac Today!
Sazerac is one of the oldest cocktails you can enjoy. With a rich history that dates back to the 19th century, you enjoy something that tastes more old-fashioned than the classic bourbon old fashioned.
While the Sazerac may be old, it's still in style. You shouldn't have any issues ordering it at local bars or restaurants. In fact, you can make them at home with the right ingredients, just make sure you purchase high-quality liquor like Sazerac de Forge & Fils to enjoy the Sazerac cocktail the way was intended to be sipped.
