Vieux Carre Twist — The New Orleans classic rebuilt on Punt e Mes and two bitters

Vieux Carre Twist

The New Orleans classic rebuilt on Punt e Mes and two bitters

Number of people

Ingredients

  • 1 ozRye Whiskey
    One third of the spirit
  • 1 ozCognac
    Equal to the rye, as in the original
  • 1 ozPunt e Mes
    Where the sweet vermouth goes, and the whole twist
    Substitute: Sweet vermouth, for the original
  • 1 dashKensington Bitters
    Cassia, clove and citrus; the West Coast aromatic
    Substitute: Any aromatic bitters
  • 1 dashPeychaud's Bitters
    The New Orleans half of the pairing
  • 1/4 ozBenedictine
    A quarter ounce, as the original has it

Instructions

  1. Add 1 oz rye, 1 oz cognac, 1 oz Punt e Mes, 1/4 oz Benedictine, 1 dash Kensington bitters and 1 dash Peychaud's to a mixing glass
  2. Fill with ice and stir until cold
  3. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice

Technique Notes

Punt e Mes rather than a plain sweet vermouth, and that is the whole twist. It brings its own bitterness on top of the two dashes, so the drink lands drier than the original and does not need the absinthe rinse the New Orleans version relies on.

Why the Vieux Carre Twist Works

The original Vieux Carre balances on sweet vermouth and needs an absinthe rinse to stop it going round. Punt e Mes carries its own bitterness, so the drink arrives drier and the two dashes of bitters become detail rather than correction.