Sazerac

The Sazerac is one of the IBA Unforgettables: 4 ingredients, stirred in a mixing glass and served in a rocks glass. That makes 82 ml in the glass: a small glass.

Ingredients

• 50 mlcognac
• 10 mlabsinthe
• 5 mlsugar
• 2 mlPeychaud's Bitters

Method

1. Rinse a chilled old-fashioned glass with the absinthe, add crushed ice and set it aside. Stir the remaining ingredients over ice in a mixing glass.
2. Discard the ice and any excess absinthe from the prepared glass, strain the mixed drink into the glass.
3. NOTE:
4. The original recipe changed after the American Civil War, Rye Whiskey substituted Cognac as it became hard to obtain.

Garnish: Garnish with lemon zest.

What it tastes like

bitter → sweet

It leans dry: 1.3 out of 10 of bitterness, 37th of 186.

round → sour

No citrus to wake it up: it arrives round, the 6th least sour of 186.

light → strong

In the finished glass, melted ice included, it runs 32.7%: 3rd of 186, stronger than 99% of the catalogue.

Among the five around it on the map it is the only one built on brandy.

Five that come close

• GodfatherBuilt on whisky and with scotch whisky in place of cognac.
• VesperBuilt on gin and with gin in place of cognac.
• Vodka Martini3 degrees lighter and with less bitterness in it.
• Dry MartiniBuilt on gin and with gin in place of cognac.
• Remember the MaineBuilt on whisky and with rye whiskey in place of cognac.

Every drink near the Sazerac on the map

Recipe source: IBA · checked on 30 October 2026