Tyler’s Toolbox

In honor of New Orleans I will share with you a drink passed on from Blake - someone I met when I was down there, I give you the Sazarac. I also urge you to buy the shirt Blake’s Dirty Coast firm has put out.
from NNO…
One of the true New Orleans drinks- a little work, but well worth it!

You’ll need:

* 1 teaspoon of simple syrup (or 1 sugar cube or 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar)
* 3 - 4 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
* 2 ounces rye whiskey (rye for the classic Sazarac, though some use bourbon, much to the dismay and distain of purists)
* 1/4 teaspoon Herbsaint, or if unavailable, Pernod
* lemon peel

Pack a 3-1/2 ounce old fashioned glass with ice. In a cocktail shaker, moisten the sugar cube with just enough water to saturate it, then crush. Blend with the whiskey and bitters. Add a few cubes of ice and stir to chill. Discard the ice from the first glass and pour in the Herbsaint. Coat the inside of the entire glass, pouring out the excess. Strain the whiskey into the Herbsaint coated glass. Twist the lemon peel over the glass so that the lemon oil cascades into the drink, then rub the peel over the rim of the glass; do not put the twist in the drink.

Interesting note: the original was made not with Herbsaint but with Absinthe, now illegal in the US and many other countries. Herbsaint has a similar aniase flavor, but none of the thujone or wormwood of the absinthe.

You know I’ve heard this story a few times, 2 days after The Great Chicago Fire there was an article in the paper that made sure everyone knew that “CHICAGO SHALL RISE AGAIN.” I didn’t see this same reaction with New Orleans, while there was a lot of initial press and social help that has sense died down (including my own effort Project: NOLA, which officially closed doors Dec 31st, 2006), but even right after Katrina I don’t remember hearing the nation shouting “New Orleans is Coming Back,” I do remember an instant debate about the cost-effectiveness of rebuilding.

I’m sick of the disrespect New Orleans has to endure. It’s one of America’s great cities, it’s going to be rebuilt, let’s rebuild it right!

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BTW: If you’re thinking about New Orleans, or want to see a new social change method at work, check out the UNOP — one of my favorite groups on the scene.