Sazerac

Sip Like a Pro: Mastering the Sazerac with Our Easy Guide

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Alright, get ready to dive into a true classic! 🥃 

Welcome to Thirsty Thursday Cocktails, Episode 15! 🎉 This week, we’re tackling the legendary Sazerac, a New Orleans original renowned for its complex flavors and intriguing preparation.⚜️ Join us as we walk you through each step to craft this iconic rye whiskey and brandy cocktail.🍹 

We’ll start by gathering all the essentials, from the chilled Old-Fashioned glass 🧊 to the crucial ingredients: smooth rye whiskey, rich brandy, sweet demerara syrup, and the aromatic duo of Peychaud’s and Angostura bitters.🌿 

Then, it’s time to get mixing! 🔄 We’ll guide you through the traditional process, beginning with the essential absinthe rinse to coat your glass with its distinctive anise aroma.👃 Watch closely 👀 as we combine the rye, brandy, syrup, and bitters in a mixing glass, stirring with ice to achieve the perfect chill and dilution.🧊 

Finally, we’ll strain our masterpiece into the prepared glass and add the final flourish: a fragrant lemon peel twist.🍋 The moment you’ve been waiting for arrives as we take that first sip, exploring the layered notes of spice, sweetness, and herbal complexity that make the Sazerac a timeless favorite.😋 

Whether you’re a seasoned cocktail enthusiast or just starting your bourbon journey, this episode will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to create a truly exceptional Sazerac at home.🏠 Cheers to Thirsty Thursday!🥂

Background: The Sazerac evolved in New Orleans throughout the 19th century, likely originating with Antoine Peychaud’s cognac and bitters concoction, gaining prominence at the Sazerac Coffee House, and adapting with the substitution of rye for cognac and the addition of absinthe. It stands today as a testament to New Orleans’ rich cocktail history.

The Sazerac

  • Start with a chilled Old-Fashioned glass
  • Add a splash of Absinthe to rinse the glass
  • Add 2 oz Rye Whiskey 
  • Add 1/2 oz of Brandy
  • Add 1/4 oz of Demerara Syrup
  • Add 5 drops of Peychaud’s bitters
  • Add 2 drops of Angostura bitters
  • Stir ingredients with ice in a mixing glass
  • Strain into a chilled, absinthe rinsed old-fashioned glass
  • Garnish with a lemon peel 

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

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NOTE: The spirits and items in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the producers for this review. Please drink responsibly.

February 2024 Traveller Whiskey Tasting

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02/27/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already. 

For this tasting, Wayne and I tasted the recent release from Buffalo Trace, Traveller Whiskey. From the Buffalo Trace site: For this first-of-its-kind collaboration from Buffalo Trace Distillery, Traveller brings together the collective artistry of 8X Grammy Award-Winning Artist Chris Stapleton and Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller, Harlen Wheatley.

What is a Blended Whiskey? A Blended Whiskey is a mixture of different types of whiskeys, sometimes with other ingredients. It’s typically made by mixing one or more higher-quality straight or single malt whiskeys with less expensive spirits, neutral spirits, colorings, and flavorings. For example, a blended Scotch might be a combination of a barrel-aged malt whisky and some other grain whisky. In the US, blended whiskey is a combination of straight whiskies and neutral spirits containing at least 20 percent straight whiskey and bottled at not less than 80 proof. For additional information, read Blended Whiskey, part of the Sunday Spirit Notes.

Buffalo Trace Welcome Center

Traveller Whiskey Blend No. 40

Mashbill – Unknown a blended whiskey

Age – Unknown a blended whiskey

Blend – From the Buffalo Trace site: In pursuit of the finest possible whiskey, over 50 blends were sampled before making Blend No. 40 the chosen combination. Blend No. 40 is the carefully curated result of countless hours of testing & tasting and is exactly what you’d expect – a premium whiskey that speaks for itself. 

Proof – 90

Price Paid – $39.99

Color – golden

Aroma – very light, sweet such as honey or fruit, not distinct, doesn’t draw you in but also doesn’t push you away.

Tasted Neat –  somewhat of a creamy mouthfeel, like the nose, it is sweet with hints of maple, caramel, or some sort of dessert.

Tasted with dried cranberry –  sweetness again with nothing distinct or specific.

Tasted with a pecan –  brought out some complexity of oak and white pepper.

Tasted with dark chocolate – the creamy mouthfeel returned, but it is rather one note.

Discussion and Final Notes

In general, it is a rather nondescript whiskey that lacks complexity. However, with the marketing, availability, and price point, it has gained a lot of attention by those who might not typically drink whiskey or bourbon.

If you are seeking a sweet, creamy, lower proof whiskey at a good price, you should give Traveller a try. For this reason, it is also a great bottle for bourbon enthusiasts to keep on their shelf for friends who might not appreciate a more robust or complex pour of bourbon.

Cheers,
Rebecca & Wayne

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

NOTE: The whiskey in this review was purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.