Two spirits share the stage here: peppery rye and round, fruity cognac. Sweet vermouth ties them together, Bénédictine adds honeyed herbs and Peychaud's brings its anise and cherry. Stir it over ice and take your time with it.
4.6Editors’ rating
Taste4.7
Balance4.6
Easy to make3.4
Popularity55
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Garnish: Lemon twist or cocktail cherry · Ice: Ice cubes
Method
Fill a rocks glass with ice.
Add rye, cognac, vermouth, Bénédictine and bitters to a mixing glass with ice.
Stir for about 20 seconds.
Strain over fresh ice and garnish with a lemon twist or a cocktail cherry.
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Watch it made
Vieux Carré
Taste
Rich and layered: rye spice, cognac fruit, herbal sweetness from vermouth and Bénédictine, and a light anise note from the bitters. Strong and warming.
History and origin
The name means "old square" and is the French term for the French Quarter of New Orleans. The drink is credited to Walter Bergeron, head bartender at the Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter, and it appears in Stanley Clisby Arthur's 1937 book Famous New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix 'Em.
The Vieux Carré combines several New Orleans threads in one glass: cognac, which the city drank long before whiskey, American rye, and Peychaud's bitters, created in New Orleans in the 19th century. The Monteleone, with its revolving Carousel Bar, is still closely associated with the drink.
Bartender tips
Choose a rye of at least 45% ABV so the whiskey is not lost behind the cognac and vermouth.
Measure the Bénédictine carefully: one bar spoon adds depth, two make the drink sweet and heavy.
Peychaud's is typical here. Angostura works in a pinch, but the drink turns spicier and less floral.
Variations
Served up
Stir and strain into a chilled coupe without ice for a more intense version.
Bourbon Vieux Carré
Swap the rye for bourbon for a softer, sweeter drink.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce Vieux Carré?
Roughly "vyuh kah-RAY". It is French for "old square", the French Quarter of New Orleans.
Can I replace Bénédictine?
It is hard to substitute. Drambuie or a honey-herb liqueur gives a similar direction, but the drink will change.
Is the Vieux Carré served on ice?
Usually yes, in a rocks glass over ice. Some bars serve it up in a coupe.
The perfect sound
New Orleans jazz and R&B
A rich, spiced evening in the heart of the French Quarter.
