Cognac (or rye), Peychaud's bitters, sugar, lemon peel and an absinthe rinse, stirred and strained into a chilled rocks glass. The official cocktail of New Orleans and arguably the oldest American cocktail.
The Sazerac was invented around 1850 by Antoine Peychaud in his French Quarter apothecary, where he served the cognac-and-bitters drink in a double-ended egg cup (coquetier, hence cocktail). The rye-and-absinthe modern formula consolidated by 1900. Designated the official cocktail of New Orleans in 2008. Arnaud's French 75, the Sazerac Bar at the Roosevelt and Antoine's all pour the canonical version.
4 editor picks for Sazerac in New Orleans, ranked by editorial score. All New Orleans signature dishes · Sazerac across every city.
Commander's Palace ★ 4.8
garden-district · 1403 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130
Commander's Palace in New Orleans is the 1893 Garden District grande dame on Washington Avenue, the Brennan family flag with turtle soup, jacket-required.
Galatoire's ★ 4.7
french-quarter · 209 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Galatoire's in New Orleans is the 1905 white-tile French Creole room on Bourbon Street, where regulars hold the same Friday lunch tables and tip the captain.
Antoine's ★ 4.1
french-quarter · 713 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Antoine's in New Orleans is the 1840 St Louis Street dining room, the oldest family-run restaurant in the United States and the birthplace of Oysters.
Arnaud's ★ 4.0
french-quarter · 813 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70112
Arnaud's in New Orleans is the 1918 French Creole room on Bienville Street from Arnaud Cazenave, with mosaic-tile floors, the French 75 Bar next door.