Character Cocktail: Hal’s Sazerac
Unless you’re a purist (that ain’t me by any definition), what really makes the sazerac is the method rather than the ingredients: sugar muddled with bitters and whiskey (no ice), chilled glass that’s been rinsed with absinthe. It’s not the most technically simple cocktail out there, but then again...
I’ve adjusted a few things to better reflect my feelings about Harold Grey... which is to say, it’s a bit intense and kinda complicated. Also strong enough to get through the best F U Hal moments in canon and fic.
Disclaimer: I’m not pulling the punch on this one. Please drink responsibly and don’t do crimes maybe.
3 oz rye whiskey (I’m from Tennessee - I like Jack)
4 or 5 heavy dashes of bitters
Small amount of absinthe (I’ll explain - and yes, that’s the stuff you can get in America)
Twist of lemon (literally a bit of the peel)
*a bar spoon yields about half a teaspoon, based on my totally scientific eyeball.
Fill your glass of choice (lowball or a snifter works well) with ice and let it chill. In a(n empty) mixing glass, spoon in your brown sugar and add your bitters, muddle it with the spoon to get the sugar wet. Add your whiskey and stir well, until the sugar dissolves. Now bear with me...
Dump the ice from your glass.
Pour a small shot of absinthe (in a shot glass). Use a pipette or a straw to add several drops to the chilled glass. (I poured a standard shot, stuck a regular drinking straw in there to the bottom, and used my finger on top of the straw to get out a tiny amount). You should have JUST enough to coat the bottom of the glass.
Add your rye mixture to the absinthe glass.
For the lemon: Use a vegetable peeler to get a thin strip of the peel. Twist this over your drink to express the oils. You should see it disturb the surface of the whiskey.