Vieux Carré
Inside: Discover the secrets to crafting the perfect Vieux Carré at home—an iconic New Orleans cocktail that’s more than just a drink. Each ingredient tells a story, paying tribute to the city’s rich, multicultural heritage.
Stir up some New Orleans magic with the iconic Vieux Carré! This legendary cocktail is more than just a drink—it’s a bold, flavorful tribute to the city’s vibrant melting pot of citizenry. Get ready to mix, sip, and savor a taste of the French Quarter!
In a city known for its cocktail culture, the Vieux Carré is a smooth-sipping drink that packs a punch. The recipe was developed by Walter Bergeron, the head bartender at the Hotel Monteleone’s Carousel bar in 1937.
Pronounced voh-care-eh or voo – kar by the locals, the phrase means “Old Square” referring to the French Quarter where the Carousel bar is located.
In this drink, New Orleans cultural representations collide in a potent but smooth cocktail. The drink features ingredients native to its inhabitants including:
- American Rye Whiskey
- French Cognac and Bénédictine
- Sweet Vermouth from Italy (and France)
- Bitters from the islanders of the Caribbean
Since every ingredient in a Vieux Carré cocktail is a liquor (no fruit juices, tonics or sodas), the alcohol content is about 30% ABV.
Why this recipe works:
- A unique balance of ingredients creates a harmonious sip with a lingering finish. The flavors bounce and reverberate on your palate.
- Vermouth’s rich sweetness softens the heat of the rye whiskey and cognac.
- Bénédictine adds a floral, herbal bump that ricochets with the other liquors.
- Two types of bitters offer more complexity.
- You can mix it by the glass or by the pitcher (for more revelers).
Ingredients:
- Rye Whiskey–You can use any rye whiskies from Sazerac to Michter’s. We used Redemption Rye a relative bargain compared to Michter’s and the quality is comparable.
- Cognac–we used ABK6. Fun fact–in order to be called cognac, the spirit must come from the Cognac region of France.
- Sweet Vermouth–a.k.a. Italian vermouth or red vermouth, is a fortified wine made from neutral grape must (fresh pressed fruit with skins and stems) fortified with another alcohol or eau de vie. It comes in sweet and dry varieties, but you’ll need sweet vermouth for the Vieux Carré recipe.
- Bénédictine–A French herbal liqueur with a curious back story and a key ingredient for this cocktail. The elixir was first introduced in the 1500s and infused with scents and flavors of twenty-seven unique flowers, berries, herbs, roots, and spices. Though the drink only uses a quarter of an ounce, it makes its presence known in this recipe.
- Angostura Bitters–with a woody, spiced flavor this elixir is from the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, bitters have long been thought to aid digestion.
- Peychaud’s bitters–the flavors lean toward anise and these bitters have a bright red/orange hue.
How to make a Vieux Carré (step-by-step):
- Add the rye whiskey, cognac, sweet vermouth, Bénédictine, Angostura and Peychaud’s bitters to a bar pitcher or mixing glass.
2. Add ice and use a bar spoon to stir well to chill the cocktail
3. Use a Hawthorne strainer to strain the ice and pour the drink into a cocktail glass and serve. (See Pro-Tips below for adding additional ice).
4. Garnish with a lemon twist, maraschino cherry or both.
Pro-Tips:
- It’s common to chill the cocktail with ice, then strain the ice from the drink to serve. However, if you prefer ice in your cocktail, I recommend adding fresh ice in the form of one large craft cube that will keep the drink cold without watering it down too quickly.
- This drink packs a punch and will sneak up on you, so drink responsibly.
Swaps and Variations:
- Don’t have Bénédictine? Substitute Chartreuse.
- This Vieux Carré recipe is tweaked from the original, which uses ¾ ounce each of whiskey, cognac and vermouth. That version also uses more Benedictine (½ oz.), and one more dash of each of the bitters, which gives it a slightly more medicinal flavor. The ratios in this version are more balanced and (we think) sippable.
- Garnishes are optional, but they dress up the drink. Try a twist of lemon, orange or a maraschino cherry–or use both. For a more luxurious version, use Luxardo or Amarena cherries).
FAQs
An old fashioned is made with bourbon or rye whiskey as the main spirit, whereas the Vieux Carre uses both rye whiskey and Cognac as well as sweet vermouth and Bênédictine. An old fashioned typically uses one type of bitters but Vieux Carré uses two types.
It tastes like a proper cocktail, with a spicy heat from the rye whiskey and cognac complemented by the sweetness of the red vermouth. Two types of bitters and Bénédictine balance the flavors with herbal notes. This drink is smooth without any sting, belying its hefty alcohol content.
You can sip it neat or over ice as a digestif after a meal or blend it with tonic to sip. You can also use it in other cocktails like the Chrysanthemum, Rolls Royce, Monte Carlo and Singapore Sling.
More famous New Orleans drinks:
Vieux Carré Cocktail Recipe
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT:
- bar pitcher
- bar spoon
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 ounce rye whiskey
- 1 ounce cognac
- ¾ ounce sweet vermouth
- ¼ ounce Bénédictine
- 3 dashes Angostura Bitters
- 3 dashes Peychaud's Bitters
DIRECTIONS:
- Chill your serving glass in advance to keep the cocktail chilled longer.
- Add 1 ounce rye whiskey, 1 ounce cognac, ¾ ounce sweet vermouth, ¼ ounce Bénédictine , 3 dashes Angostura Bitters, and 3 dashes Peychaud's Bitters to a bar pitcher and add ice. Stir until the ingredients are chilled. Strain into the chilled glass and garnish with a slice of orange peel.
RECIPE VIDEO:
NOTES:
NUTRITION:
Pin It For Later!
Had this drink at a friends and boy did it go down smooth! I have been to the famous carousel bar, but I was not aware of this drink at the time. I wish I was. This is a great drink for a cocktail hour with some hors d’oeuvres and while it is bourbon, it actually was a very light drink And tastes like more, just be careful because as it said in the description, having a couple of these, they will certainly creep up on you. If you’re a bourbon drinker, you need to try this!