My recipe for a Raw Sazerac

Because JC mentioned a Sazerac in a very recent post and it is my favorite cocktail:

RAW SAZERAC (America’s oldest cocktail recipe, "they" say.)
Fill rocks glass entirely with ice and set aside

Grab shaker and pour in:
2 oz of sazerac rye whiskey
4 dashes of Peyschaud bitters
1/4 oz of raw honey (as opposed to the traditional refined sugar cube; hence the name raw sazerac)
Set shaker aside

Grab rocks glass and stir ice in glass to further chill the entire glass then dump ice

Pour a several drops of absinthe into the chilled rocks glass. Swirl glass around to spread the absinthe and then shake out any residual liquid

Grab shaker and put one scoop of ice inside
STIR the Cocktail briskly but take care not to break or chip any ice

Strain and pour into the chilled and absinthe spritzed rocks glass

Garnish with a fresh lemon peel that you’ve squeezed to release the oils.

Pretty similar to my procedure, Jon. I use a mixing glass rather than the shaker (not that it matters), I use a sugar cube, and I usually throw a tiny bit of water in with the absinthe when rinsing the glass. I find I prefer just a touch of absinthe flavor. When made right, this might be the best cocktail there is.

I recently had one of these at a local bar and they served the absinthe rinse with a little ice and a little extra water on the side. Waste not, want not, I guess.

I recently had one of these at a local bar and they served the absinthe rinse with a little ice and a little extra water on the side. Waste not, want not, I guess.

Now, that's a good idea!

Sounds good to me, Jon!

My variance is to use a different rye whiskey.

I prefer the Old Rittenhouse 100 Proof Rye Whiskey. It's the best I've found. And it's less expensive.

Also makes a difference what absinthe you use. They can vary pretty widely. Herbsaint is best if you want to get as close as possible to a 'real' New Orleans Saz.

Hoke - I agree on the Rittenhouse. It's around $22 here and that has to constitute one of the best QPRs in the entire world of alcohol.