Vieux Carré cocktail recipe

Let’s start with pronunciation. Repeat after us: voo car-ray. It’s French for old square – a reference to the French Quarter of New Orleans, where this cocktail hails from. The Vieux Carré was created at the Hotel Monteleone, which has passed through five generations of the Monteleone family. It’s an institution famous for its Carousel Bar, a rotating bar designed to resemble a real-life carousel. Legendary figures have made many appearances here, such as Truman Capote, Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner.  And you better believe that a bar this special has a signature drink that can hold its own – enter the Vieux Carré.

Made using Dom Benedictine, sweet vermouth, Cognac and rye whiskey, the Vieux Carré is one serious cocktail. It was invented by bartender Walter Bergeron in the 1930s, and it has held a special place in locals’ hearts ever since. There’s a real complexity to it, with the rye whiskey bringing a spicy kick balanced by the sweet vermouth. Benedictine – for those yet to use it in a cocktail – is a French liqueur made up of 27 different herbs and spices including thyme, juniper and cinnamon, adding a fragrant floral flavour to the cocktail. The two types of bitters add the final touch, working with any lingering sweetness to level out the Vieux Carré.

Though the Vieux Carré takes a bit of preparation and uses a number of ingredients, it’s certainly worth the effort, especially if you’re hosting a few friends. Not too many people will have tried a Vieux Carré, and given its fascinating history, you’ll have plenty to talk about while you sip and savour this cocktail. 

Looking for a food pairing? Heavy, fattier meats will work nicely with the whiskey and bitters, or you could opt to serve something inspired by New Orleans cuisine, such as jambalaya or gumbo.

You may have noticed that the Vieux Carré is a play on the classic Manhattan, with the addition of a few key ingredients. So, if you’re feeling strapped for time, or want to ease yourself into the Vieux Carré world, a Manhattan is a fantastic place to start. Once you’ve nailed that classic cocktail, you can tackle a Rob Roy, which calls for blended Scotch in place of whiskey, or, there’s also a Metropolitan, which substitutes whiskey for brandy.