Sazerac
The Sazerac is a very strong whiskey spirit-forward cocktail, sweet and smoky on the palate. Stirred and served in a rocks glass. It's one of the International Bartenders Association's official unforgettables cocktails.
- 3 min
- Rocks glass
- Stirred
Flavor profile
- Sweet
- 74 out of 100
- Bitter
- 32 out of 100
- Herbal
- 41 out of 100
- Smoky
- 52 out of 100
- Boozy
- 100 out of 100
How to make a Sazerac
To make a Sazerac, stir with ice and strain into a rocks glass: ¼ oz Ricard, ¼ oz simple syrup, 2 dashes Peychaud bitters and 2 oz bourbon. Garnish with lemon peel.
You'll need
- Ricard¼ oz
- Simple syrupor ½ tsp sugar + a splash of water¼ oz
- Peychaud bitters2 dashes
- Bourbon2 oz
- Lemon peelgarnish
Pairs well with: Simple syrup · All syrups
Instructions
- 1
Chill a rocks glass: fill it with ice and water while you mix, then tip it out.
- 2
Pour Ricard, simple syrup, Peychaud bitters and bourbon into a mixing glass (any sturdy glass works).
- 3
Fill it with ice.
- 4
Stir for 20-30 seconds, until the outside is cold to the touch.
- 5
Strain into the chilled rocks glass.
- 6
Garnish with a lemon twist.
Why stir? Ricard, Peychaud bitters and bourbon are clear, so a gentle stir over ice chills and dilutes them without clouding the drink.
No simple syrup? Muddle ½ tsp sugar with the Peychaud bitters and a splash of water in the mixing glass until it dissolves, then carry on.
Sazerac questions
What does a Sazerac taste like, and is it sweet?
Yes, it's on the sweet side: it's mostly sweet and smoky, with a noticeable alcohol warmth. It's a very strong drink at about 33% ABV once mixed.
How much alcohol is in a Sazerac?
About 33% ABV after mixing with ice, close to a neat spirit.
What's the difference between a Sazerac and an Old Fashioned?
Both use simple syrup and bourbon. The Sazerac adds Ricard and Peychaud bitters, while the Old Fashioned uses Angostura bitters. The Sazerac is stirred and served in a rocks glass; the Old Fashioned is built in the glass and served in a rocks glass. The Sazerac is the stronger of the two.
Should a Sazerac be shaken or stirred?
Stirred. Ricard and bourbon are clear, so stirring chills it while keeping it silky; shaking would cloud it with tiny bubbles.
What glass do you serve a Sazerac in?
A rocks glass.