🥃 Peychaud's Bitters
Cocktail bitters from New Orleans, created by the apothecary Antoine Peychaud; 35% ABV; notes of cherry, liquorice and anise; owned by the Sazerac Company.
Peychaud's Bitters is a cocktail bitters from New Orleans, created by the apothecary Antoine Amédée Peychaud. It has 35% ABV and notes of cherry, liquorice and anise, and it is taken by the drop. Today the brand belongs to the American Sazerac Company, and the bitters are considered one of the foundations of the Sazerac cocktail.
History. According to the Oxford Companion, Antoine Amédée Peychaud (1803–1883) opened his pharmacy in 1834 and introduced the bitters between 1849 and 1857. He sold them as a medicinal tonic. According to Difford's Guide, a bartender at the Sazerac Coffee House most likely created the Sazerac cocktail in 1858, probably with these bitters. Sources describe the change of owners differently, so we do not give dates for it. Today the bitters belong to the Sazerac Company.
Taste. Difford's Guide describes aromas of cherry, liquorice, anise, celery and orange zest. On the palate you notice quinine bitterness, cherry, orange zest and mint. The exact recipe is secret, so other ingredient lists should not be attributed to this brand.
Range. Besides the classic Peychaud's Aromatic Cocktail Bitters, the Sazerac Company has released a version aged in whiskey barrels. It tastes different from the classic, so read the full name on the label and compare the two rather than mixing them up.
Why it matters to you. These bitters are strong, but they are used by the drop. Consider the anise and the 35% ABV if you avoid alcohol or anise. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | bitters introduced between 1849 and 1857; Peychaud's pharmacy from 1834 (New Orleans) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787 lists the category «bitter» (30); cocktail bitters are used by the drop, so their status depends on the product and country |
| Raw material | recipe is secret; aromas of cherry, liquorice, anise, celery, orange zest; bitterness from quinine (Difford's Guide) |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 35% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Peychaud's Bitters → similar → 🌿 Anise spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Sazerac Company
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- Where it is found
- 🥃 Sazerac
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🌿 Bitters and bitter spirits
- Similar and different
- 🍸 Bitter (bitter-tasting spirit drink), 🌿 Anise spirits, 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky, 🥃 Malört, 🥃 Malört, 🥃 Amaro Lucano, 🥃 Amaro Lucano, 🥃 Cocktail bitters
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that the word «cocktail» comes from Peychaud's measure?
No. Difford's Guide directly calls this legend false.
Who created Peychaud's Bitters?
The apothecary Antoine Amédée Peychaud of New Orleans; according to the Oxford Companion, the bitters appeared between 1849 and 1857.
What is the strength of Peychaud's Bitters?
35% ABV, according to Difford's Guide.
Who owns Peychaud's Bitters?
The Sazerac Company.
Which cocktail uses Peychaud's?
The best known is the Sazerac. A bartender at the Sazerac Coffee House most likely created it in 1858.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍸 Bitter (bitter-tasting spirit drink) — Spirit drink with a predominantly bitter taste: flavoured alcohol or distillate from 15% vol.; EU category 30.
- 🌿 Anise spirits — Drinks with anise, star anise or fennel: from 15% vol.; pastis, ouzo and sambuca are separate EU categories.
- 🥃 Malört — American bitter wormwood liqueur made in Chicago; 35% ABV; launched after Prohibition; owned by CH Distillery since 2018.
Similar
🥃 Ratzeputz · 🥃 Gammel Dansk · 🥃 Malört · 🥃 Cynar · 🥃 Becherovka · 🥃 Averna
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: Peychaud's Aromatic Cocktail Bitters (35 %; cherry, liquorice, aniseed, celery, orange zest; Antoine Peychaud 1834; Sazerac Company)
- The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails: Peychaud's bitters (Antoine Amédée Peychaud 1803–1883; bitters 1849–1857; Sazerac Co.)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I: categories of spirit drinks
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)