If you're looking for something new to do with rye whiskey, how about something old instead? The Vieux Carré is a classic New Orleans whiskey cocktail. Vieux Carré means "old square" in French, and New Orleans was part of the French-owned territories in America before Napoleon sold the entire area to the new United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. New Orleans has a lot of town squares that are decidedly old, since the city was founded in 1718, and French Quarter of New Orleans is known as the Vieux Carré, even though that's not a literal translation.
But you don't need to be a historian to know that this drink is good! I was actually a little surprised at how good it is. Give it a try for yourself!
VIEUX CARRÉ
3/4 oz. rye whiskey
3/4 oz. Cognac or brandy
3/4 oz. sweet vermouth
2 teaspoons Benedictine
4 dashes Peychaud's bitters
Combine all ingredients in a shaker over ice. Shake then strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with an orange twist.
I used Legado Rye in this, which is made by a local Sacramento distillery. I also used brandy because I didn't have any Cognac. Fun fact: all Cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is Cognac. Only brandy made within the Cognac region of France is legally allowed to be labeled as Cognac. For the sweet vermouth, I used Carpano Antica Formula. You want to use a high-quality vermouth in this one, because the vermouth is playing a co-starring role. The Peychaud's bitters are important too, because they have a delightful color that amplifies the colors of the spirits.
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