Martini / Rye Whiskey

De La Louisiane

De La Louisiane is made with rye, sweet vermouth, Bénédictine, absinthe and Peychaud’s bitters, chilled for serving.

Prep5 minutes
DifficultyIntermediate
GlassCoupe Glass
MethodStirred
Strength26.3% ABV
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Built to the standard modern spec; not yet tested in our kitchen. How we test.

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Coupe
Stirred

The recipe.

Scaling adjusts quantities only. Prepare shaken drinks in individual portions.

Step by step

Let’s make a good drink.

  1. Chill a coupe and prepare the garnish before mixing.

  2. Add all measured ingredients to a mixing glass.

  3. Add ice and stir until thoroughly cold and gently diluted, tasting with a clean spoon if needed.

  4. Strain into the prepared coupe.

  5. Add a drained cocktail cherry on a pick.

A thoughtful finish

  • Measure the small absinthe dose accurately so rye and herbal liqueur remain distinguishable.
  • Keep opened vermouth refrigerated so its flavor stays fresh between servings.
  • Use solid ice and stir smoothly; stop once the mixture is cold and pleasantly diluted.

Common mistakes

  • A large absinthe pour can eclipse the other flavors in this stirred New Orleans cocktail.
  • Oxidized vermouth can taste dull or stale even when the spirit and measurements are correct.
  • Stirring with mostly melted ice can make the drink watery before it becomes properly cold.

A few good questions.

What is in a De La Louisiane?

De La Louisiane is made with rye, sweet vermouth, Bénédictine, absinthe and Peychaud’s bitters.

Can I scale a De La Louisiane for more servings?

Multiply every measured ingredient by the same serving count. Prepare the measured still ingredients ahead if useful, but chill, shake or stir each serving as directed; add any carbonated finish at service.

Can I make this with an old bottle of vermouth?

Fresh, refrigerated vermouth gives a better result. If an opened bottle tastes oxidized or stale, replace it before judging the recipe’s balance.

Who created the De La Louisiane?

No individual creator is established by the source used here. The drink is associated with New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Variations

  • Another vermouth producer — Editorial bottle variation: use the same vermouth styles and measures from another producer; botanical character and sweetness can change.
  • Over a large ice cube — Editorial serving variation: serve the same measured mixture over a large fresh cube in a rocks glass; continued ice melt will change its dilution over time.

Where it comes from

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA · Restaurant de la Louisiane

De La Louisiane is made with rye, sweet vermouth, Bénédictine, absinthe and Peychaud’s bitters, chilled for serving.

Sources

  • Difford’s Guide — La Louisiane Cocktail Recipe (reference) link

Strength. About 1.7 US standard drinks at an estimated 26.3% ABV, estimated from the ingredients and technique, not measured. What that means.

Inside the glass

A little character in every sip.

The flavorHerbal
The techniqueStirred
Your personal recipe edit

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