Sazerac

Ah, my illustrious coterie of the cultured and the curious, prepare thyselves for an odyssey into the heart of New Orleans, where the whispers of history mingle with the promise of the night. The Sazerac, a concoction so enigmatic, it is as if the spirit of the city itself were ensnared within the glass, a potion of shadows and light, of secrets and revelations.

Ingredients

• 2 oz (60 ml) rye whiskey, as bold and complex as the jazz that echoes through the French Quarter.
• 1 sugar cube (or 1 teaspoon/5 ml of sugar), the sweet essence of Southern charm, a nod to the hospitality that defines the soul of New Orleans.
• 2 dashes of Peychaud’s bitters, a crimson whisper of spice and mystique, the alchemy that binds the potion.
• A splash of absinthe (about 1/4 oz or 7.5 ml), the green fairy, a mist of enchantment to coat the glass.
• A lemon peel, for garnish, the zest of life, a curl of light in the darkness.
• Ice, the silent custodian of tradition, preserving the sanctity of the concoction.

Directions

1. In a glass that has known the laughter and tears of a hundred years, swirl the absinthe to coat, then discard the excess, leaving only the ghost of its kiss.
2. In a separate vessel, one that has borne witness to the ebb and flow of fortunes, muddle the sugar cube with Peychaud’s bitters and a single drop of water, as if awakening the spirits of the past.
3. To this alchemy, add the rye whiskey, as fiery and spirited as a Mardi Gras parade, and ice, as enduring as the city itself.
4. Stir with the deliberation of a steamboat navigating the Mississippi, blending the elements into a tapestry of flavor.
5. Strain into the absinthe-kissed glass, an elixir of twilight and dawn, shadow and light.
6. Garnish with a lemon peel, twisted over the glass to release its oils, a beacon in the night.

Tips

• The choice of rye whiskey is a homage to the original; seek one that speaks of strength and character, a spirit with a story.
• Peychaud’s bitters are the soul of the Sazerac; their unique flavor profile is irreplaceable, a signature of this timeless libation.
• The ritual of the absinthe rinse is not mere pageantry but a consecration, imbuing the drink with a hint of mystery and allure.

Calories & Alcohol

In our final act, my beloved connoisseurs, the Sazerac is not just a cocktail; it is a narrative in a glass, a journey through the heart of New Orleans, a sip of history, a toast to the complexity of the human spirit.

As we curtain close on this nocturne of flavors, let it be disclosed that this vessel of nocturnal poetry contains approximately 176 calories, with an alcohol content that elegantly promenades at about 1.5 standard drinks (2.4 AU). A modest tribute to the art of cocktail craftmanship and the spirit of New Orleans.