Vieux CarréCocktail recipe
Rating
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Created by Walter Bergeron in 1938 and pronounced 'Voo-Ka-Ray', this drink is named after the New Orleans French Quarter and is French for 'Old Square'.
Microbadges
Can you make this?
Add the ingredients you have at home to your My Bar and we'll show you what cocktails you can make. Start off by adding the ingredients you have for this cocktail using the plus icons.
Lowball / rocks glass
Ingredients
Cocktail Colin says:
The Vieux Carré is a symphony of depth and complexity that captures the essence of New Orleans in a glass, weaving together the smooth, rich notes of cognac and bourbon with the herbal mystique of Benedictine. The balancing act of spicy, sweet, and bitter from the Angostura and Peychaud's bitters against the backdrop of red vermouth creates a cocktail that’s both robust and remarkably sophisticated, inviting sip after thoughtful sip.
Method
How to make a Vieux Carré
- Cognac 30ml, DOM Benedictine 7.5ml, Bourbon 30ml, Red vermouth 30ml, Angostura Bitters Dash, Peychaud's Aromatic Bitters Dash
-
- In a mixing glass with ice, add all the ingredients and stir until chilled
-
- Strain into a rocks-filled lowball glass, garnish with a cherry, and serve
Power tips
Elevate the Vieux Carré with these master mixologist tips
Upgrade to premium
And receive world class tips on how to raise your cocktails to the next level.
Find out more- For a smoother mouthfeel, briefly stir the mixture without ice before adding to the mixing glass with ice for final stirring.
- Consider using a mix of Rye Bourbon and a sweeter Cognac to balance the flavors.
- Upgrade to premium to receive even more power tips on this cocktail.
Your private tasting notes
Featured in
FAQ's
What is the origin of the Vieux Carré cocktail?
The Vieux Carré cocktail originated in the 1930s at the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans. The name 'Vieux Carré' translates to 'Old Square,' referring to the French Quarter of New Orleans. It was created by bartender Walter Bergeron as a nod to the city's diverse cultural heritage.
How should the Vieux Carré cocktail be served?
The Vieux Carré should be served in a lowball glass, also known as an old-fashioned glass. It is traditionally garnished with a lemon twist or a cherry, and it is important to serve it chilled but not diluted, which is achieved by stirring the ingredients with ice and straining into the glass.
Can I substitute ingredients in a Vieux Carré?
Substituting ingredients in a Vieux Carré can alter its classic taste, but it's possible based on preference or availability. However, each ingredient plays a specific role, so choose substitutes wisely. For example, you might replace Cognac with another brandy or the bourbon with a different American whiskey, but substituting DOM Benedictine or the specific bitters might significantly change the cocktail's character.
What is the significance of the bitters in a Vieux Carré?
The bitters in a Vieux Carré, specifically Angostura and Peychaud's, add complexity and depth to the cocktail. Angostura provides herbal notes and Peychaud's offers a slight floral and anise flavor. Together, they balance the sweetness of the vermouth and the richness of the Cognac and bourbon, creating a harmonious blend that is integral to the cocktail's distinctive taste.
What makes the Vieux Carré a unique cocktail?
The Vieux Carré is unique due to its combination of spirits and modifiers that reflect New Orleans' multifaceted culture. It's a blend of French (Cognac), Italian (red vermouth), Caribbean (bitters), American (bourbon), and local (Peychaud's bitters) ingredients, making it a melting pot of flavors. Additionally, its creation in the historic French Quarter adds to its allure, embodying the spirit and history of New Orleans in a glass.
Upgrade your mixology
Become a member for free taking your cocktail making skills up to level 11. Or become a premium member to rise to cocktail greatness.
- Save your bar forever
- Access to our Cocktail Creator, allowing you to create your own wonderful concoctions.
- Access to Cocktail Colin; ask Cocktail Colin anything on an individual cocktail and he'll give you the answers you need.
- Create personalised cocktail menus for all your events, bars or parties
- Save cocktails to personalised 'Tried' and 'Want to try' lists
- Create and record tasting notes on cocktails
- Create lists of cocktails to share with friends and family
- A personalised MyBar URL, allowing you to share everything you can make with friends
- And much more ... (what to buy next, measurement choices, search personalisation...)
Have you tried our Wordpress Plugin?
Download our plugin and embed cocktail recipes directly onto your own site or blog.
Choose from our whole recipe database, or choose a specific cocktail made with a certain ingredient, and let us place a beautiful recipe on your own site.
Find out moreYou might also like
Discover this timeless blend of cognac and lemon
Sidecar
Cognac, Triple Sec, Lemon Juice
Discover this distinct mix of Cognac and pineapple.
East India No.2
Cognac, Orange liqueur, Pineapple Juice, Angostura Bitters, Sugar / simple Syrup
Experience this rich mix of Cognac and milk.
Brandy Milk Punch
Cognac, Sugar / simple Syrup, Milk
Discover this rich blend of cognac and bitters.
The Bâton Rouge
Cognac, Gold rum, Red vermouth, Angostura Bitters, Peychaud's Aromatic Bitters
Create a cocktail
Choose a theme and some ingredients, give us some description and we'll create an amazing cocktail for you.
Register as a Premium Make Me a Cocktail community member and get access to an even more powerful creator.
Start creatingBuild your bar
Tell us what you have at home and we’ll find a delicious cocktail for you to make right now.
Register as a Make Me a Cocktail community member and we’ll save your ingredients list so you can come back to it at any time.
Create My Bar
Cocktail Colin
Your cocktail expert
Hi! I'm Cocktail Colin
Ask me anything about this cocktail - how to make it, substitutions, variations, or any other questions!
Become a member to access Cocktail Colin
Become a member (for free) to pick Cocktail Colin's cocktail filled brain on everything on this cocktail, from substitutions, if you can use what you have, to serving suggestions and more.
Become a member
Comments