This week’s cocktail emerged from the heady New Orleans cocktail scene in the late 1800’s, where it was the original house cocktail at the fabled La Louisiane restautrant (which closed in 2005). It was first documented in a 1937 book, Famous New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix ‘Em (still available in affordable reprints), and while its use of rye whiskey and sweet vermouth makes it look like a Manhattan riff, I think it’s not; the Manhattan itself first appeared in New York City around that same time. The shared ingredients were most likely a coincidence, as Italian (sweet) vermouth arrived in the United States in the mid-1800s, and rye was still the predominant expression of American whiskey in the 1880s.

À La Louisiane (sometimes called “De La Louisiane”) is boozy and complex, layering in the sweet, herbal notes of Benedictine, the Cajun spice of Peychaud’s bitters, and the decadent licorice notes of absinthe. It feels impossible to find two versions of the recipe that use the same proportions of those ingredients, so feel free to start with this suggested mix and adjust to your own tastes! The combination of sweet vermouth and and Benedictine can be a little syrupy sweet, so I like a generous amount of the whiskey to keep them in check. Plus, you know … whiskey!! 

À LA LOUISIANE

Ingredients (all available at Pinnacle Wine & Liquor):
2 oz Bottled-in-bond rye whiskey 
¾ oz Sweet vermouth (preferably a Vermouth di Torino)
¾ oz Benedictine D.O.M.
3 dashes Absinthe
3 dashes Peychaud’s bitters

Tools needed (all available at Cooks’ World): Mixing glass, bar spoon or stirring rod, Hawthorne or julep strainer, and cocktail coupes—all available at Cooks’ World.

Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass ⅔ full of ice and stir for 20-25 seconds until well chilled. Strain the drink into a chilled glass—a cocktail coupe is best. Garnish with a Luxardo Maraschino Cherry (or why not three!). 

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Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor are less than a mile from each other, on Monroe Avenue near Twelve Corners in Brighton.

Cooks’ World, in business since 1978, is Rochester’s premier retailer of dining, kitchen, and cooking products, including a complete selection of glassware, mixology tools, and accessories for wine and spirits lovers. Follow Cooks’ World on Facebook and Instagram. Sign up here to receive Cooks’ World’s daily email specials and other news. 

Pinnacle Wine & Liquor, in business since 1997, offers a thoughtfully curated selection of spirits and wine from around the world, with a savvy staff to assist in your selection and encourage you along your cocktail and wine journey. Follow Pinnacle on Facebook and Instagram. For the inside track on Pinnacle’s spirits sales, send two text messages to (585)765-7546:
— Text the word “bourbon,” to receive weekly text messages offering the chance to buy rare or allocated whiskies or special prices on popular products.
—Text the word “spirits,” to receive roughly monthly offers on fine spirits other than whiskies.