Suzerac
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 26.8% ABV ∙
The Suzerac is a stirred whiskey cocktail — an absinthe-rinsed rye and gentian liqueur riff on the Sazerac, sweetened and bittered, served up in a coupe. Anise from the absinthe rinse hits first, then rye spice and a bittersweet gentian bite settle into a dry, lingering herbal finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Rinse the glass with Absinthe and set to one side
- Stir the remaining ingredients with ice: Rye whiskey 45 mlGentian liqueur 30 mlSugar syrup 10 mlCreole-style bitters 3 dashes and strain into the rinsed glass
- Garnish with a lemon twist
Tips
- Swirl the absinthe rinse to fully coat the glass, then tip out the excess — a film is enough, pooled absinthe overpowers the rye.
- Stir the rye, gentian liqueur, syrup, and bitters over ice for about 20-30 seconds so the rye chills without losing its backbone.
- Pre-chill the coupe before rinsing it; a cold glass keeps the absinthe aromatic instead of flat.
- Express the lemon twist over the drink to release its oils, then rest it on top rather than dropping it in.
History
The Suzerac was created in 2017 by Kevin Rigault at Le Forvm cocktail bar in Paris, who devised it to bridge the French aperitif Suze with New Orleans cocktail culture; the name simply combines "Suze" and "Sazerac." It reworks the Sazerac by adding Suze, a gentian liqueur, for a lighter, more bitter-herbal edge than the original.
The Sazerac itself traces to New Orleans, where the Sazerac Coffee House began serving a cocktail made with imported Sazerac-de-Forge et Fils cognac around 1850, later crediting local apothecary Antoine Amedie Peychaud's bitters and, after the Great French Wine Blight, switching its base to rye whiskey. Its exact origin and claim to being the oldest American cocktail remain disputed among historians.
FAQ
What is a Sazerac made of?
A classic Sazerac is rye whiskey (or cognac), sugar, Peychaud's bitters, and an absinthe rinse, stirred and served in a chilled glass with no ice. This build follows that same shape but adds a gentian liqueur, such as Suze, alongside the rye, sugar syrup, and Creole-style bitters, still finished with the absinthe rinse and a lemon twist.
What's the difference between an Old Fashioned and a Sazerac?
An Old Fashioned is whiskey, sugar, and bitters stirred with ice and served over a cube; a Sazerac swaps that ice-filled serve for an absinthe-rinsed glass with no ice in the final drink. This build follows the Sazerac's absinthe-rinsed, up-served structure, adding a gentian liqueur alongside the rye for extra bittersweet depth.
Is a Sazerac strong?
Yes, it is a spirit-forward drink with little dilution beyond the stir and rinse. This build comes in at about 26.8% ABV, with the rye whiskey and gentian liqueur both contributing a full-strength base.
Is Sazerac still served in New Orleans?
Yes, the Sazerac remains a staple on New Orleans cocktail menus and is closely associated with the city's bar culture today.
