The Vieux Carré cocktail is named after The French Quarter, the oldest neighbourhood in New Orleans which is also known as the Vieux Carré, or old square in French.
The Vieux Carré was created in 1938 by head bartender Walter Bergeron at Hotel Monteleone’s cocktail lounge which later became the rotating Carousel Bar. The spirit-forward cocktail bears similarities with the Sazerac and is made with rye whiskey, Cognac, sweet vermouth and Benedictine. Both drinks uses Peychaud’s bitters, created by Antoine Amédée Peychaud around the same time as the Vieux Carré.
This is an equal parts cocktail which is easy to make at home. It’s simply built in an old fashioned glass with ice and garnished with a lemon twist.
Vieux Carré Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 15 ml rye whiskey
- 15 ml Cognac
- 15 ml sweet vermouth
- 15 ml Benedictine
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
- 1 dash Peychaud’s bitters
Glassware: old fashioned glass
Garnish: lemon twist
Method
Into a chilled old fashioned glass with ice, add all ingredients and stir. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Photo taken at NOLA Smokehouse and Bar in Sydney by Cocktails & Bars – © Copyright: All rights reserved.
