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Bold, boozy, and balanced, the Vieux Carré is a classic New Orleans cocktail made with cognac, rye whiskey, vermouth, Bénédictine, and two types of bitters. It’s easy to stir up and perfect served on the rocks.
The Vieux Carré cocktail is a classic. Cognac and rye whiskey balance each other well, while sweet vermouth and honeyed Bénédictine liqueur add sweetness. A few dashes of two aromatic bitters round out the flavors, providing a divine herbal element to the drink.
A slow sipper, the Vieux Carre is the perfect cocktail for lazy, cozy evenings. The warmth from cognac and rye whiskey is particularly comforting when it’s chilly! For more classic cocktails, try my old fashioned, Last Word, and Boulevardier.
What Is The History Of The Vieux Carre?
Hailing from New Orleans, the original recipe for Vieux Carré was created in Hotel Monteleone’s cocktail bar (now the Carousel Bar) by head bartender Walter Bergeron in the 1930s. It is essentially a sweet Manhattan with an herbal twist and served on the rocks.
The drink then made its way to print in Stanley Clisby Arthur’s classic Famous New Orleans Drinks & How to Mix ‘Em. The cocktail’s name is the French term meaning “Old Square,” referring to the New Orleans French Quarter.
The Vieux Carré is in great company with other famous New Orleans drinks like the Sazerac, hurricane drink, and Ramos gin fizz (a variation of a classic gin fizz).
Ingredients
Cognac — the sweetness of cognac balances rye whiskey’s bold, spicy flavor.
Rye whiskey — wonderful for cocktails, rye whiskey has a peppery flavor. You can use any type of whiskey you enjoy, but a rye whiskey will make the most classic flavored cocktail.
Vermouth — use a red sweet vermouth, not dry vermouth.
Bénédictine — this is a smooth herbaceous French liqueur with notes of honey and warm spices.
Bitters — Peychaud and Angostura bitters add a botanical flavor element that adds to the complexity of a Vieux Carré.
Garnish — a lemon twist or a cherry works well to finish off the cocktail.
How To Make A Vieux Carré Cocktail
1. To a mixing glass filled with ice, add the cognac.
2. Follow with the rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Bénédictine.
3. Then add both the Peychaud and Angostura bitters.
4. Stir well for about 20 seconds to combine and chill the ingredients.
5. Strain the drink into a rocks glass or old-fashioned glass filled with ice.
6. Garnish with a lemon peel or a cherry.
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
- What cherry to use: You can use a fresh cherry to garnish if you like or use a jarred cherry such as maraschino, bing, or Luxardo cherries.
- Stir well before straining. Not only is this important for chilling the ingredients, it also dilutes them appropriately as the ice melts so the drink tastes perfect.
- Chill the cocktail glass to keep the drink colder for longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Benedictine is an herbaceous liquor. Though it is unique, yellow chartreuse, B&B liqueur, and Drambuie make fine substitutes.
While you don’t need to break the bank for brandy cocktails, I recommend buying at least a bottle in the middle of the range with a flavor you like.
For 8 servings, combine 6 ounces each of cognac, whiskey, and vermouth, along with 2 ounces of Bénédictine. Chill until ready to serve. To mix each cocktail, measure out 2.5 ounces of the batched cocktail, add the bitters, and stir with ice as directed.
If you’ve tried this vieux carre recipe, then don’t forget to rate it and let me know how you got on in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
Vieux Carré Recipe
Ingredients
- ¾ ounce cognac
- ¾ ounce rye whiskey
- ¾ ounce sweet vermouth
- ¼ ounce Benedictine liquor
- 3 drops Peychaud Bitters
- 2 drops Angostura Bitters
- Lemon twist or cherry to garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass filled with ice, combine the cognac, rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, benedictine, and both bitters. Stir well for about 20 seconds to combine and chill.
- Strain the drink into a rocks or old-fashioned glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a lemon twist or a cherry.
Notes
- What cherry to use: You can use a fresh cherry to garnish if you like or use a jarred cherry such as maraschino, bing, or Luxardo cherries.
- Stir well before straining. Not only is this important for chilling the ingredients, it also dilutes them appropriately as the ice melts so the drink tastes perfect.
- Chill the cocktail glass to keep the drink colder for longer.
Nutrition
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