Recipes — Alcohol

The Sazerac is not only the OG of cocktails, it’s also the official cocktail of New Orleans, Louisiana. Created by Creole pharmacist Antoine Amedée Peychaud in the early 1830’s, the original recipe was made with cognac along with some old-school absinthe (the kind that was banned in the early 1900’s). Needless to say, the drink had an affect on folks.

Some say that the term “cocktail” originated from this legendary cocktail. Mr. Peychaud served his creation in egg cups known as coquetiers. According to New Orleans folklore, Americans mispronounced the vessels by calling them cocktails, and an entire category of drinks was born. As with so much of cocktail history, this story has been disputed over the years.

The Zombie was created in the 1930’s by Donn Beach AKA Don the Beachcomber. As with many tiki drinks, the Zombie is not short on flavor, rum, and recipe variations. 

Don was so protective over his recipes, that he wrote them in code- even his bartenders didn’t entirely know his formulations. He would premix elements and number the bottles, so a bartender may add a 1/2 oz. of “Don’s Mix Number 4” instead of the individual ingredients. While many of his recipes disappeared with his passing in 1989, bartenders, mixologists, and cocktail enthusiasts haven’t stopped attempts to crack the cocktail code.

'Tis the season for sweater weather, scary movies, and cocktails with creepy names. We’ve already shared our interpretation of the Corpse Reviver #2 and felt like its lesser-known sibling the Corpse Reviver #1 should also get some love.

“Strong enough to bring back the dead” is traditionally said to describe the cocktails in the Corpse Reviver family. A pre-prohibition classic, the Corpse Reviver #2 has enjoyed a resurgence in cocktail culture. It’s a truly delicious drink: bright and refreshing with floral notes.