As most people know, the history is very long. While this has been a hotel since 1944, the building has been around for over two centuries! Which means there is a lot of non-hotel history to cover. One of the biggest pieces of our history is something that has swept the nation for years.
Many know that New Orleans is the birthplace of the cocktail. What they don't know is the first official cocktail was the Sazerac. The creator of this wonderful concoction, Antoine Amede Peychaud, was one of the original inhabitants of the building. While he had his own apothecary down the street on Royal and he invented the drink there, he is still considered one of the most prominent figures in our history. There is even a room named after him.
Now what does it matter knowing the history of a drink if you don't know how to make it? Knowing whether you like the drink is just as important as knowing where it came from.
The Sazerac
Ingredients:
3 ounces rye whiskey
3/4 ounces simple syrup
Peychaud (yes it's named after the founder!) bitters to taste
Absinthe or an absinthe substitute
Lemon Twist for garnish
Preparation:
1. Chill an old-fashioned glass by filling it with ice and letting it sit while preparing the rest of the drink.
2. In a separate mixing glass, muddle the simple syrup and Peychaud bitters together.
3. Add the rye whiskey and ice to the bitters mixture and stir.
4. Discard the ice in the chilled glass and rinse it with absinthe by pouring a small amount into the glass, swirling it around and discarding the liquid.
5. Strain the whiskey mixture from the mixing glass into the old fashioned glass.
6. Garnish with a lemon twists. Traditionalists will say that the lemon twist should be squeezed over the drink to release its essences but that the twist should not be dropped into the glass itself.
And now it's time to go and enjoy your own Sazerac. For best results, use Sazerac rye whiskey. Have fun!
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