The Sazerac: Whisk(e)y Wednesday presented by Lock & Key Whiskey Bar

Lock & Key's Sazerac

The Sazerac is a cocktail of historic lore. The fact that it was created in New Orleans is undisputed, but the legends of apothecaries, pharmacists, and bartenders that contributed to the cocktail are vastly differing. One thing we do know is that the Sazerac started with a base of Cognac, Sugar, Peychaud's Bitters, a lemon peel, and of course a glass lined with Absinthe. Throughout the course of history due to a devastated grape crop in France and the craft wine industry successfully lobbying to outlaw absinthe, the cocktail transitioned from cognac and absinthe to rye whiskey and Herbsaint. Herbsaint, of course, is almost an anagram for absinthe, and highlights many of the same herbs as the Green Fairy minus the wormwood, the herb which was claimed to be hallucinogenic.

The Lock & Key Whiskey Bar features a more new world Sazerac on their featured cocktail list as well as on their happy hour menu ($5) from 4:30-7 PM M-F. The Sazerac-Sazerac ($10 regularly) begins with Sazerac brand rye whiskey and continues with the aforementioned bitters, and Herbsaint. You'll definitely get a taste of a fine Louisiana cocktail here!

Also of note, tonight at Lock & Key is their monthly Women & Whiskey Event. The free educational whiskey lesson is from 6:30-8:30 tonight. Anybody is welcome!