How to Make a Vieux Carré AKA the "Old Square"
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 มิ.ย. 2024
- Translating to "old square", the vieux carré refers to the French Quarter, where this cocktail was born in 1938. This is the manhatten of New Orleans, and I'm going to show you how I make it. Although there are quite a few ingredients in this recipe, it is fairly simple to remember. For the most part, it's equal parts rye, cognac, and sweet vermouth. The benedictine is not quite as much because of the big flavor of the liqueur. Many recipes will in fact call for much less (as little as a dash), but I like the herbal sweetness it offers, and I counter that here with four healthy dashes of bitters. Loaded with flavors that balance each other out, I am excited to share with you this recipe! Cheers!
Grab the bottles I use here! 👉 bit.ly/AndersBottleCollection
Patreon: / anderserickson
TIME STAMPS
Intro: 0:00
The Booze: 1:21
The Recipe: 3:00
Sips: 6:25
Sign Off: 8:46
VIEUX CARRÉ RECIPE
3/4 oz. (22.5 ml) Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey
3/4 oz. (22.5 ml) Maison Rouge V.S.O.P. Cognac
3/4 oz. (22.5 ml) Cocchi Vermouth di Torino
1/2 oz. (15 ml) Bénédictine
2 dashes Peychaud's Bitters
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
lemon twist for garnish
THE TOOLS
My workhorse double jigger: amzn.to/3lmmKrK
My favorite mixing glass: amzn.to/46KrrTX
Bar spoon: amzn.to/3wkkDhg
Julep strainer: amzn.to/3mymEyA
Channel knife: amzn.to/3iofZXL
Rubber bar mat (6"x12"): amzn.to/3h2IJER
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Co-produced with the lovely Azusa "Az" Inaba 🎥 🎨
Image attributions:
"New Orleans - French Quarter 'Hotel Monteleone'" by David Paul Ohmer is licensed under CC BY 2.0
"Carousel Bar, Hotel Monteleon" by dansilvers is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Best cocktail channel currently on YT. I can’t wait for the rest of the world to find it. Also this is my favorite cocktail at Ward Eight. “Perfect” is right.
Thank you and cheers! 😊 🙏
Old square in Australia's found it. Agree... one of the best. Cocktail and channel.
True comment although I do like Cara Devine as well. Classic cocktails and a lovely Scottish accent. What's not to like? I like Anders presentation. He has an easy style which no doubt comes from talking to a lot of people in the bar.
For sure and by far.
Totally agree!!
I can't say enough about the pleasantness of Anders, his storytelling abilities and the overall likeability of the video/audio quality. My absolute favorite bartending channel on TH-cam ... Cheers!!!
Cheers to you!
Agreed. Although I haven't sampled all the cocktail channels on TH-cam, Anders is my favorite. Great storytelling, great production quality, and plenty of charm.
I've had the pleasure of spending way too much $$ on building my bar based on your cocktails. This is the first one where I have exactly everything in the lineup. Can't wait to make one tonight! Need a nap first though because I've gone down the Sazerac wormhole today. Did 100% Rye, half Rye half cognac, and full cognac. I liked the half and half the best.
I like full Rye in a Sazerac myself
Ok what is the music? It's PERFECT for drinking by myself on my deck. It reassures me that there's nothing wrong with enjoying a nice cocktail alone.
This is unquestionably one of the best cocktails around.
Best Vieux Carré on TH-cam, one of my favourites too
I’m in Mexico, and it’s tough to get Benedictine, I found a bar near me who happened to have it…so I tried this, Awesome!! Really is, and then the monte casino…blew my mind!
The sweet tempered while tipsy are my favorite people.
A very good sign. 🏆
Just found this channel and oh gosh you two are so adorable and fun!
love it!!!
I just made one. I followed his instructions exactly. Undoubtedly one of the best, most balanced cocktails I’ve ever had. Thank you!
Of all the cocktails you’ve featured that I have made the vieux carré is BY FAR my favorite! So good!
I love all you cocktails with some kinda citrous in them...this is the first one without that pass them all!!! Thank you for sharing your passion!!
This is an absolutely delightful cocktail.
I've found your channel recently and have watched a dozen or more videos; great work, I really enjoy them. This is the first drink I followed the recipe and man, what a drink. Loved it.
I miss these longer videos w more talking /stories/tips. Love this channel ✨
I made this last night exactly the way you described, and it was so good! A friend of mine made this for me at a party at his house earlier last year, and he made his on the rocks (or a large rock) and included cherries. That was also good, but I really like this one. The comment you made about the bartender at the Carousel Bar throwing a drink together quickly to get the volume out really resonated with me, because that's always been my Achilles heel whenever I've worked as a bartender at high-volume places in the past. I try to make them high-quality and "pretty," but that just didn't work out. I don't work at those places anymore. Now I save my bartending skills for friends and family and myself, ha. By the way, I've been to the Monteleone Hotel! It is a bit whimsical! :)
I literally recommend this channel to everyone. My new favorite on YT.
Thank you Andres, I may have just found my new favorite cocktail. Your Sazerac is great, but I think this is even better. You and your videos have certainly opened me up to a whole world that I did not know existed.
My all time favorite cocktail. Everyone I’ve made it for have all loved it.
There are a few cocktail channels on TH-cam and a few of them a good, but no other one is as funny and at the same time as informative as yours ... love it ... greetings from austria
I used Brandy because it's what I had on hand, a stellar rye whiskey, Carpano Antica and the benedictine. I have never had flavors like this in a cocktail before.
Great cocktail. Love your specs. Was just at the Monteleone and completely agree, but everyone should do it once. Jewel of the City and Bar Tonique are two of my fav bars there now.
I’m having a really rough moment and making your Vieux Carré then drinking it really lifted me. Thank you Anders
Just made this for the first time. I am a regular drinker of Manhattans and you are correct this is a bit like an extension of a Manhattan ..... very tasty. Merci
Hey Anders and Az, just wanted to say that I absolutely love the production value on your videos. Incredible camera work with what seems to be some very high end equipment. Such gorgeous B-roll shots too ❤️
Since this is among your favorite cocktails, you'll be glad to hear that I made it today at my mom's weekly family lunch and they all loved it. I also shared with them how much I enjoy the excellent mix of cocktail history and stories along with drink making knowledge. Making cocktails has been a hobby for several years, and spending a little time with you on TH-cam has both increased their quality and my enjoyment in making them.
Still the best cocktail channel on YT. I made the Vieux Carré 3 years ago after seeing it here, and I just made it again. Still delicious. You guys are the best!
As a whiskey and cocktail enthusiast I enjoy your videos. And I like the history you give. Makes me feel like my new channel (whiskeyways) is going in the right direction. Cheers!
I'm a little late to the party, but I only recently got into mixing cocktails at home. I've made quite a few different drinks, but I have never heard of the vieux carre.
I just mixed one using your recipe (except I used Meukow cognac instead) and I have to say... the vieux carre is now my go to cocktail to enjoy after a long day at work.
Thank you for your efforts and knowledge!
This is such a great drink. Tried it for the first time this weekend.
I love the recommendation of a chopstick as a stirrer, being married to a wonderful Asian woman I have learned to use chopsticks and or a chopstick to stir almost everything including cocktails. It’s a perfect substitution. Thank you. Love this channel.
Bar tonic is just off bourbon north of Jackson Square. Very chill atmosphere and they nail the classics. Had my 1st Vieux Carre there. So yummy 😁
Great cocktail Anders! I made it just like you recommended and it turned out perfectly. Big hit with the wife. You have my confidence!
Great cocktail! This has been on normal rotation for me since you posted this video. I recently tried it with Ander's ratios but switching the Benedictine out for Green Chartreuse. Wow! That is a great cocktail. Also, still French.
I love this drink! My first was at The Carousel Bar in NOLA. Can't wait to try yours!
I seriously can't wait to go to this bar! Maybe my first "Tales of the Cocktail"
Yo Anders I heard your subtle hint that the original recipe used equal parts of the ingredients. So today I tried it. Very nice. Thanks for all your hard work.
First time experience with your channel. Liked, subscribed, and wish you all the very best of enough of everything. Keep up the tempo Anders!
Great video, Anders!
I've been watching you for about 2 years now, and this was one of the first cocktails I saw you make (the Aviation was the first). FINALLY, just now getting to make this. It is delicious! Everything is perfectly balanced, and yeah, the chocolate up front and the zing on the back end is brilliant! Thank you, Anders, for really opening me up to so many delicious cocktails I highly doubt I'd have ever tried if not for your channel. Cheers, my friend 🥃🥃
Love this. Thanks so much! Happy you were able to try this one - such a good drink. Cheers!
I really enjoy your channel. Perfectly balanced on every level, which ain't easy to accomplish. I enjoy your "Lady," she's very pretty, intelligent, & personable.
I love this one! Been a dedicated bourbon cocktail drinker for several years, and this immediately is my new favorite. 🥃 cheers!
Last night I was wanting to make a cocktail and I wasn’t too sure as to what I wanted to make. I grabbed things off the bar and started assembling before I realized I was making a vieux carre. I must have had this video somewhere in my subconscious because it was perfect. Only difference was my lack of cognac (which I have failed to replace my last few trips to the store) but I did use an armagnac finished Sagamore rye which was a great sub.
One of my favorites
Love mathattens, I definitely have to try this.
Family portrait 🤣 I just made this. It even smelled so good before stirring. I have a New Orleans cocktail story: I went to the upstairs bar at Mimi's in the Marigny. On the menu they have a cocktail made with, I wanna say, almond milk or maybe coconut milk - i don't remember has been about 7 years ago. But yeah, order that one 😁
While it’s hands down my favorite Rye drink, I’ve had it with all Cognac, and I must say, it’s quite tasty that way, too. Also, I once was fortunate enough to have a Vieux Carre at the Carousel Bar. While the novelty of that experience was great, it’s something you only need to do once in your lifetime.
I'm such a big fan of your videos, thank you very much! It lifts up my mood watching you making these great drinks :) Could you make a video about the amber moon? ^^
Today i bought Peychaud's Bitters for the first time and the Vieux Carré was the first drink i mixed with it. This drink is so delicious! Perfect.
I just came back from Nola where a friend of a friend (a local) took me to Hotel Monteleone for a Vieux Carre which I’d not heard of. I LOVED IT. I bought all the ingredients a few days after returning to Raleigh, NC. I was only watching your videos because I wanted a new take on my favorite drink - Old Fashioned and thought you had such a great presence and personality! Then I happened to glance at the side bar and saw that you had a Vieux Carre! 😱😱 We both have the exact same recipe with the exception of the bitters… the recipe I worked off of listed Dale D’Groff’s pimento bitters which I don’t have so I used Angostura. I’ll try it with Angastura AND Peychaud’s next time. Thanks-you are great fun to watch and learn from! (I’m from Duluth, MN btw. 😉) Cheers, Sue
Well, since I have all the ingredients, I guess I HAVE to make it! Thanks for the great tutorial Anders.
That's always been my philosophy! 😜
Never had this one. Looking forward to trying it!
We love the Monteleone, but we skip past the carousel bar and go to the back bar, better drinks there. Hubby is a manhattan guy grew up in NY and fondly remembers pitchers of manhattans for family Sunday brunch. I will make this for him and see what he thinks. Thanks!!
I had one of these at the Carousel Bar in New Orleans in the before times. Can confirm, it’s delicious.
Great vid. 👍🔥
I actually found it elsewhere, but this is the recipe I use. Best I’ve found. I serve mine on the rocks, though. I’ll have to try it your way. I use 2 luxardo cherries to garnish.
Wife is in New Orleans for a conference, and ordered one, so I made one at home (this exact spec, I have the same bottles). Nice, maybe a little sweet for me, but delicious.
Just made this Anders! Def my favorite. Slam dunk. ❤️
Cheers, Hans! Happy you enjoyed it!
Anders, your recipe is the only one I saw with that much Bénédictine. It's usually 1/4 ounce or even a dash. I'm going to try both, as everyone seems to enjoy your version.
I love your channel. Watching this video, I was thinking, "It's probably a stupid question, but I'd love to know how to stir a drink the way he does." To my delight, you answered it within seconds! Thank you for that. I'm going to make this drink one day soon.
By the way, what bar do you work in. THAT would be a bucket list destination!
It's so good that time stands still.
Created this with your measurements and I was surprised how a 1/4 oz less of the Benedictine changes the end result. Thank you!
Thank you for the video! I had one not too long ago it had a sprig of some herb I think rosemary and a cinnamon stick
Just made this version! It is pretty strong, but has way more complexity than a Manhattan, you can taste the sweet vermouth, the benedictine and the rye and cognac is a very nice subtle blend!
Was in NOLA a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed both a Vieux Carre and La Louisiane at the Sazerac Bar. Both were top notch, professionally prepared cocktails. What a great experience! Bring your wallet and your favorite cocktail requests. Rachel will take good care of you.
I ended up in New Orleans and got a sazerac in the Roosevelt hotel, a hurricane at Pat O’Brian’s, and a French 75 at Arnaud’s. It was a good trip! I missed the Carousel Bar though!
Love your channel!! I just made this but can't get Benedictine locally so I substituted with 1 oz of B & B and dropped the cognac to 1/4 oz. I can't say if it an accurate rendition but I do love it....Cheers
I made this at a get together recently and this one was the most popular spirit only drink.
I love a Manhattan as my second drink of the night. I looking forward to adding this cocktail to my list.
i remember my first vieux carré at your bar... after having returned from NOLA, and not being able to nab a seat at the hotel monteleone carousel bar! it was “perfect”! cheers
The seats at our bar much easier to nab...they move much slower 😂
Love this...Love NOLA.....Love what you do....did a quick Anders search for a sazerac how to....coming soon hopefully?
My wife and I stayed in the French Quarter for one night on a whim and had a blast. Caught a show at Preservation Hall, dined at Arnaud's, ate beignets, and went to some bars. I look forward to going back.
I think I'd like this!
first time I came across this cocktail, the bartender/owner would premix everything and 'age' it in a mini barrel which I thought was pretty neat. the second time I came across this cocktail was watching this video; I've basically thought the first incident was a fever dream of some exaggerated extravagant manhattan since then. thank you for confirming my recollection/providing the recipe for this wonderful drink.
I have been using a chopstick for about 6 months as I haven’t purchased a barspoon yet. Nice to see someone else use it too!
Hi Anders, I am new to the cocktail world but really enjoy your content. I live just outside of New Orleans and I’m curious of places in the New Orleans area that you would recommend for a rookie like myself to try out. Thanks!
Love your channel! This is my favorite cocktail in existence. It’s interesting to see how your recipe varies a bit from the one I make. Just up each spirit a 1/4 ounce (1oz each) and drop the Benedictine 1/4 ounce (1/4oz) then still 2 dashes each bitters.
Not sure if that’s my own variation I’ve slowly gotten to or if it’s the original recipe I learned somewhere. Do a side by side and tell me what you think!
I love this cocktail! A little sweeter than a Manhattan, which is one of my favorites. But the Vieux Carré is a nice change on occasion.
Just made this myself. Made me want a Manhattan lol
Thank you for making this cocktail as requested. This one is at the top of my favorites. All flavors,ingredients and parts work harmoniously . All I need to do is find many more cocktails to use the bottle of DOM Benedictine I purchased.
Drink the Benedictine on the rocks. It's actually very tasty.
La lousiane and Monte Cassino are both great as well!
@@joelwilcox5424 I will give both of them a try. Thank you
Awesome channel, makes cocktails fun and approachable! Can you do a video on the Vesper and or something with Lillet. I have a bottle and I know it won't last more than two months when I open 😀
Vieux Carre’! Where have you been all my life!
"I'll wherever I want!!!" This is the spirit! 😉
Spring-Autumn I'll put it on a rock. Winter is when I crave it neat.
I was at the Carousel last week. Their drinks are excellent.
Top 5 Bucket List bar right there!
Yeah, finally someone that feels about this drink like I do! It's like an improved version of a Sazerac and Manhattan
Looks like I'll be making one of these for myself tonight! Also, any recommendations for cocktail bars to check out in Covington LA?
As Huey would say, "too hip to be a square..." Another great drink to try!
i always serve this at my bar with only peychauds bitters no angostura and also always with a big cube
Anders are you going to be releasing a book of your recipes ? Because I'll buy it for sure *hic*
My favorite New Orleans story goes back almost a quarter-century. I was having very little success at wooing this lady who loved The Big Easy. I was on a business trip to Minnesota and gave her a call. She asked me what Minneapolis was like, and I said, "You know what New Orleans is like, right?". She replied, "Yes, I do." And I said, "Minneapolis is not like that, at all."
Recently found this channel and ... damn your Vieux Carre is tasty! Thank you for sharing.
My first solo trip to N.O. was the summer I graduated high school. I was 18 and the drinking age was still 18. They were about to change the drinking age to 21 to get their federal road money back. I went there for a week. I drove my 68 mustang down and stayed at the youth hostel off St Charles I would take the street car into the quarter. It was a great time. Saw Eric Burdon sing House of the Rising Sun at The House of Blues in New Orleans, how cool is that. Along with too much drinking, too much eating, but what are you gonna do. The morning I left I double parked outside of the central market and got my muffuletta and hit the road back to Texas listening about at midnight the drinking age switched to 21 on the radio.
Hey Anders,
Great channel! I want to make this one at home but I cannot seem to find Maison Rouge V.S.O.P. Cognac nearby. Any other Cognac that can be used instead?
Who knew you could "bruise" liquid? Learned something new today. Another great video guys!
Cheers, Farhana!!
Definitely happens, even if you call it something else!
Hey! Today I tried your version and Steve the bartender ‘s version. Usually I like your version of cocktails better, I feel they are more… on my taste. But this time I feel your version is a little more sweet (from the Benedictine). Nevertheless, a very good cocktail! Thank you!
very similar to the la louisiane looking forward to seeing what it would taste like
I have not been to New Orleans as an adult, and hope to go when we are no longer dealing with a pandemic. There is a museum there in the former home of a very distant relative, La Museé Rosette Rochon, an interesting character to say the least. Born into slavery before the American Revolution then freed by her white father, Rosette was a businesswoman who amassed wealth and lived to about the age of one hundred. Her home and the museum were in a significant state of decay, but is being brought back to life as an example of antebellum life among the city’s Afro-Creole culture.
Az deserves a trophy for that one.
“Am I getting old and bland? What do you think, Az?”
“Old square.”
we stan a queen
My TOP Cocktail...my opinion is that the lemon is a must
I sub Chartreuse for Benedictine. It’s so good!
Hi! I had a lil question: you're speaking a bit about bitter/sweet balance - but is that a choice to use sweet vermouth? A lot of Vieux Carré's recipes I've seen suggest to use vermouth rosso, and apparently in the Stanley Arthur's 1938 "Famous New Orlean's Drinks", it's only specified "Italian Vermouth"... What do you think about it? (I've just had - finally - a bottle of Benedictine so I haven't tried the options yet!)
(I also have to say: Thank you for your work, it's always a pleasure watching your videos and - like many of us I guess - it pushed me a lot to get into the cocktail world, so cheers and keep going!!)