Sazerac is not only a cocktail, but a company that has its roots in 1850's New Orleans, when Aaron Bird bought the Merchant Exchange "coffeehouse" (i.e. saloon) from Sewell Taylor, a local businessman and liquor importer. Bird renamed the building the Sazerac Coffeehouse, and began to use Sazerac du Forge et Fils brandy in a cocktail that included sugar, water, absinthe and [ingredient=peychauds-bitters Peychaud's] bitters. This drink came to be called the Sazerac.
In 1869, Thomas Handy bought the Sazerac Coffeehouse and began to build a spirits importation company. He bought the rights to Peychaud's in 1873, and by 1890, was producing a bottled Sazerac cocktail with [ingredient=rye rye whiskey] instead of [ingredient=brandy brandy].
The modern company was founded by Handy's secretary, C.J. O'Reilly, and has been in the liquor business ever since, except during Prohibition, when they were a grocery store and delicatessen.
The Sazerac company is family owned, and operates quite a few major distilleries: Buffalo Trace, Glenmore, A. Smith Bowman, Fleischmann and Barton. They also own the Mr. Boston brand.
Some popular cocktails containing Sazerac
- Cheeky Sazerac — Rye, Herbal liqueur, Peychaud's Bitters, Aperol, Simple syrup
- Rinse & Repeat — Old Tom Gin, Sweet vermouth, Aperol, Rye, Absinthe, Grapefruit peel
- Meat Hook — Rye, Sweet vermouth, Islay Scotch, Maraschino Liqueur, Brandied cherry
- Two Birds — Rye, Aperol, Sweet vermouth, Crème de Cacao, Peychaud's Bitters
- Poppies in October — Rye, Aperol, Apricot liqueur, Black tea liqueur, Orange bitters
- Rattle-Snake Cocktail — Rye, Absinthe, Lemon juice, Egg white, Rich simple syrup 2:1
- Whoa, Nellie! — Rye, Dark rum, Orange liqueur, Grapefruit juice, Lemon juice, Simple syrup
- Foreign Affairs — Rye, Dry vermouth, Campari, Maraschino Liqueur, Peychaud's Bitters, Simple syrup, Orange peel, Orange
- Fontana — Rye, Aromatized wine, Herbal liqueur, Triple sec, Peychaud's Bitters
- Bitter Blossom — Sweet vermouth, Rye, Elderflower liqueur, Orange bitters