Sazerac
New Orleans rye classic with an absinthe-rinsed glass and Peychaud's bitters — a spirit-forward, citrus-free stirred drink that batches and dilutes predictably.
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How to make it
Stirred · Advanced · about 3 minutes
- 1
Rinse a chilled rocks glass with the absinthe, swirl to coat, and discard the excess.
- 2
Add the rye whiskey, simple syrup and peychaud's bitters to a mixing glass filled with ice.
- 3
Stir for 20–30 seconds until well-chilled and properly diluted.
- 4
Strain into the prepared rocks glass over a large ice cube.
- 5
Garnish with lemon peel (expressed and discarded).
Tools you'll need
Making a batch for a party?
This example makes 12 servings with added water at 22% of the full recipe volume before dilution. This is a planning assumption; water from ice at service is not predicted. Edit this recipe and create a purchase sheet →
| Ingredient | × 12 | mL |
|---|---|---|
| Rye whiskey | 24.0 oz | 710 |
| Absinthe (rinse) | 3.0 oz | 89 |
| Simple syrup | 3.0 oz | 89 |
| Peychaud's bitters | 0.4 oz | 11 |
BatchPour tools produce estimates for planning purposes only. Actual dilution, ABV, and ingredient yields vary by technique, ice temperature, and produce. Always taste and adjust. Drink responsibly.
If you like the Sazerac, try…
Old Fashioned
whiskeyWhiskey, sugar, bitters — the original cocktail, built in the glass.
Whiskey Sour
whiskeyBourbon, lemon, and sweetener — the essential American sour.
Manhattan
whiskeyRye, sweet vermouth, bitters — the stately stirred classic.
Penicillin
whiskeyScotch, lemon, honey-ginger, peaty float — a modern classic.
Sazerac FAQ
What's in a Sazerac?
A classic Sazerac is made with rye whiskey, absinthe (rinse), simple syrup, peychaud's bitters. It's stirred and served in a rocks glass.
What is the ABV of a Sazerac?
The listed ingredients calculate to approximately 42.7% ABV before added water or ice melt, with approximately 1.80 US standard drinks per serving. Water lowers the concentration but does not change the alcohol quantity.
Should I shake or stir a Sazerac?
Stir it. The Sazerac is spirit-forward with no citrus, so stirring keeps it silky and crystal-clear.
How do I batch Sazeracs for a party?
Scale each ingredient by your number of servings. Open this recipe in the batch planner to choose added water, package sizes and ingredients to hold for service. Preset water percentages are planning assumptions applied to all recipe liquid before dilution, not predictions of ice melt.