Mr. Boston Deluxe Official Bartender's Guide

It's no surprise that America's first cocktail was created in New Orleans, the original cocktail Mecca. By 1850, the Sazerac was already a wildly popular drink. At the time though, it was made with Sazerac-de-Forge et Fils, a French brandy from which the cocktail drew its name. In 1873, the recipe was altered to call for American whiskey and a dash of absinthe rather than brandy. The reason for this being that European vineyards were under attack by an American aphid called Phylloxera Vastatrix. European wine production plummeted, which, in turn, affected the brandy industry as well. Many people have a strong preference for rye whiskey in a Sazerac, and indeed the official recipe calls for Sazerac Rye. Whatever your spirit preference, this cocktail is undoubtedly an American classic.