Vieux Carre cocktail
The Vieux Carré is a classic New Orleans cocktail made with equal parts rye whiskey, cognac, and sweet vermouth, rounded out with Bénédictine and bitters. Aromatic, strong, and complex, it’s often described as the city’s take on the Manhattan.
Served over ice with a lemon twist, it’s a sophisticated drink for those who enjoy spirit-led classics with depth and spice.
- Prep Time:
- Total Time:
- Type: Cocktail
- Units: 2.5
Equipment
- Lowball glass
Ingredients
- 30 ml rye whiskey
- 30 ml cognac
- 30 ml sweet vermouth
- 10 ml Bénédictine
- 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Lemon twist (Optional)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a mixing glass filled with ice
- Stir until well chilled
- Strain into a lowball glass over fresh ice
- Garnish with a lemon twist
FAQ
How does the Vieux Carré fit into the family of classic cocktails?
It’s often seen as New Orleans’ answer to the Manhattan, with the addition of cognac and Bénédictine giving it extra depth. Like the Boulevardier, it uses sweet vermouth and bitters but swaps gin or whiskey bases for a richer blend. If you enjoy the boldness of a Sazerac or the smoothness of a Sidecar, the Vieux Carré sits right in the middle – powerful, aromatic, and perfect for slow sipping.
Which spirits are used in a Vieux Carré?
The drink blends rye whiskey, cognac, and sweet vermouth, giving it a deep, layered flavour. The addition of Bénédictine and bitters makes it more complex than a Manhattan or Old Fashioned.
How strong is a Vieux Carré?
A standard serve (30ml rye whiskey, 30ml cognac, 30ml sweet vermouth, plus liqueur and bitters) comes to about 2.5 alcohol units, making it stronger than a Whiskey Sour but similar in weight to a Martini.
How does it compare to similar cocktails?
The Vieux Carré is like New Orleans’ answer to the Manhattan: boozy, aromatic, and best for slow sipping. It’s richer than a Boulevardier and spicier than a cognac-led Sidecar.
When was it created?
It was first mixed in the 1930s at the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans, and is named after the city’s French Quarter (“Vieux Carré” in French).
How does a Vieux Carré compare to a Sazerac?
Both are New Orleans classics, but they show two very different sides of the city’s cocktail history. The Sazerac is minimalist, intense and focused. The Vieux Carré, by contrast, is more complex, blending rye, cognac, vermouth, and Bénédictine with two types of bitters. If the Sazerac is brass-band jazz, the Vieux Carré is a full orchestra – both powerful, but in their own way.