My Bar Bible / Cocktails / Old Fashioned vs Sazerac
Old Fashioned vs Sazerac
What is the difference between a Old Fashioned and a Sazerac? Here are both recipes side by side, with exact measures, and what actually sets them apart.
The difference
- Both use sugar cube.
- Only the Old Fashioned has bourbon, Angostura bitters and water.
- Only the Sazerac has Cognac, absinthe and Peychaud's bitters.
Old Fashioned
| Bourbon | 45 ml |
| Sugar cube | 1 cube |
| Angostura bitters | 2 dashes |
| Water | 1 barspoon |
The original definition of a cocktail: spirit, sugar, water and bitters.
Sazerac
| Cognac | 50 ml |
| Absinthe | rinse |
| Sugar cube | 1 cube |
| Peychaud's bitters | 2 dashes |
New Orleans, 19th century, named after Sazerac de Forge et Fils cognac. Rye whiskey took over later.