Sazerac

If you haven't already finished off that bottle of Templeton Rye, here is a cocktail to change things up a bit.  What's old is new - this drink has its origins in pre-Civil War New Orleans.  Haven't got a nearby saloon to make you one?  Here's how to do it at home:

Ingredients:

• 1 cube of sugar (or 1/2 oz simple syrup)
• 1.5 oz Rye Whiskey
• 1/4 oz absinthe
• 3 dashes bitters
• lemon peel

Preparation:

1. Chill an old fashioned glass by packing it with ice.
2. In a second glass, muddle the sugar cube and the bitters together.  (Or mix the bitters with the simple syrup).  Add the rye.
3. Discard the ice from the first glass, pour the absinthe in the glass and swirl the glass to coat it with absinthe.  Discard any remaining absinthe that doesn't coat the glass (though it isn't bad if you leave it in the glass!)
4. Pour the rye/sugar/bitters mixture into the coated glass and garnish with a lemon peel.

Just like Mamie used to make!