Sazerac
The South knows their drinks. When the weather is so unpredictable, you need something to warm you up in the cold and cool you down in the heat. There’s a lot of history between the southern states and innovations in alcohol, and a lot of it comes straight from the heart of New Orleans.
The Sazerac was invented by Mason and apothecary Antoine Peychaud in 1838. It was first made with Sazerac-de-Forge, a brandy that gave the cocktail its name. After some time, it got replaced by whiskey, and generations later, Seir Hill has made it so you can enjoy a Sazerac with little (if any) alcohol (at all)!
We do this with Mashville™, which is a specially-brewed whiskey alternative that holds all the bite and glow you expect from the spirit. With it you can make a non-alcoholic Sazerac that’s truly tasted to be believed.
To mix this Sazerac mocktail, you need:
- 1.5 oz Mashville™
- .25 oz Absinthe (+alcohol option)*
- 3 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters (+alcohol option)*
- 1 sugar cube
- A few drops of water
- Lemon peel (for garnish)
Get ready to enjoy the best (non-alcoholic) Sazerac you’ve ever tasted!
How to Make a Mashville Sazerac
This sounds counter-productive, but the first thing to do for your non-alcoholic Sazerac is to rinse a pre-chilled lowball glass with absinthe. Pour in just enough to coat the inside of the glass, and after, that you can set it aside.
In a separate glass, you want to mix the bitters, water, and sugar cube until dissolved. Then you add the Mashville™ and ice and stir until fully chilled.
Once that’s done, you strain the mixture into your lowball glass. Then all you need to do is twist the lemon peel over the drink and drop it in to garnish. With that, you have a sazerac mocktail ready to drink.
*The Addition of Absinthe
We’ve said it before, but mocktail doesn’t necessarily mean no alcohol. It usually just means less than you would have otherwise. In this case, the absinthe used is really only enough to contribute to the taste and play a part in the drink’s history.
When the drink first hit the public scene as a cocktail of choice in 1873, it was one bartender’s choice to add a splash of absinthe. This was controversial, as this vibrant green liqueur allegedly caused hallucinations that ultimately led to its banning a few decades later.
The absinthe on the market now won’t cause you to hallucinate, but it is strong, which is why only a little bit is used to capture its distinct flavor. If you’re looking for a fully virgin Sazerac you can choose to go without. You can even do that while still creating an authentic drink, as historically *Peychaud’s bitters were what was substituted for absinthe after it was banned.
Seir Hill believes in celebrating history in a way that includes everyone. That’s why we made Mashville™, as well as our other alcohol substitutes. It’s our way of allowing you to praise past culture while creating one all your own.
