Cherry Sazerac Recipe with Burnt Sugar Syrup & Cherry Bitters | Warn Reserve
If the Sazerac and the Old Fashioned had a slightly rebellious cousin, this would be it.
The classic Sazerac is already one of the great whiskey cocktails: strong rye, aromatic bitters, a touch of sweetness, an absinthe-rinsed glass, and bright lemon oils. Our version takes those familiar flavors somewhere richer with Warn Reserve Burnt Sugar Syrup and Barrel-Aged Emmett Cherry Bitters.
The result is a Cherry Sazerac with notes of caramelized sugar, oak, dark cherry, rye spice, anise, and fresh lemon. It feels sophisticated enough for a cocktail bar, but you can make it at home in about five minutes.
And if you're searching Pinterest for a unique whiskey cocktail, rye whiskey recipe, Sazerac variation, or a seriously good after-dinner cocktail, you may have just found your next favorite.
The Burnt Sugar Cherry Sazerac
Rich. Boozy. Cherry-kissed. And unapologetically sophisticated.
Ingredients
- 2 oz rye whiskey
- 1 oz Warn Reserve Burnt Sugar Syrup
- 2–3 dashes Warn Reserve Barrel-Aged Emmett Cherry Bitters
- Absinthe, for rinsing the glass
- Lemon peel, for garnish
- Ice, for stirring
Prefer cognac? Swap it for the rye for a softer, fruitier variation.
How to Make a Cherry Sazerac
1. Chill the glass
Place an Old Fashioned or rocks glass in the freezer while you prepare the cocktail. You can also fill the glass with ice water and let it chill while you mix.
2. Build the flavor
Add Warn Reserve Burnt Sugar Syrup and Barrel-Aged Emmett Cherry Bitters to a mixing glass.
The Burnt Sugar Syrup brings a deep, caramelized sweetness while the cherry bitters add fruit, spice, oak, and complexity without turning the drink into a sugary cherry cocktail.
3. Add the rye
Pour in 2 ounces of rye whiskey. Add plenty of ice and stir until the cocktail is thoroughly chilled and slightly diluted.
4. Give it the Sazerac treatment
Empty your chilled serving glass.
Add a small splash of absinthe, swirl it around until the inside of the glass is coated, then discard the excess.
Don't skip this part. That tiny amount of absinthe adds the unmistakable herbal aroma that makes a Sazerac a Sazerac.
5. Strain & garnish
Strain the cocktail into the absinthe-rinsed glass without ice.
Cut a fresh lemon peel and twist it over the surface of the drink to release the citrus oils. Rub the peel around the rim before adding it as a garnish—or discard it in traditional Sazerac fashion.
Then enjoy.
Why Cherry + Burnt Sugar Works So Well
Cherry and whiskey are natural partners, but the trick is keeping the drink sophisticated rather than overly sweet.
That's where the combination of Burnt Sugar Syrup and Barrel-Aged Emmett Cherry Bitters shines.
Burnt sugar adds darker, toastier flavors than ordinary simple syrup. Think caramelized sugar, subtle molasses, and toasted richness rather than plain sweetness.
The cherry bitters provide the fruit component without adding cherry juice or syrup. A few dashes introduce dark cherry character alongside the complexity developed through barrel aging.
Then rye whiskey brings spice and heat, absinthe adds its distinctive anise and herbal aroma, and lemon oil cuts through everything with a bright citrus finish.
It's a lot happening in one little glass, and that's precisely the point.
Rye or Cognac?
You really can't lose.
Choose rye whiskey if you want a bolder, spicier Cherry Sazerac with more bite. Rye stands up beautifully to the burnt sugar and barrel-aged bitters.
Choose cognac if you prefer something rounder and fruitier. Cognac emphasizes the cherry notes and gives the cocktail a softer, more luxurious character.
Our suggestion?
Make one of each.
Strictly for research purposes, obviously.
A Whiskey Cocktail Worth Saving
The Burnt Sugar Cherry Sazerac is a great cocktail for fall and winter evenings, dinner parties, date nights, holiday gatherings, or anytime you want something a little more interesting than another standard whiskey drink.
It's also an easy cocktail to remember:
Rye + Burnt Sugar + Cherry Bitters + Absinthe + Lemon.
Five ingredients. Serious cocktail-bar flavor.
Burnt Sugar Cherry Sazerac Recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 cocktail
Glass: Old Fashioned / rocks glass
Ingredients:
2 oz rye whiskey • 1 oz Warn Reserve Burnt Sugar Syrup • 2–3 dashes Warn Reserve Barrel-Aged Emmett Cherry Bitters • absinthe rinse • lemon peel
Directions:
Stir the Burnt Sugar Syrup, Cherry Bitters, and rye whiskey with ice until chilled. Rinse a chilled Old Fashioned glass with absinthe and discard the excess. Strain the cocktail into the glass without ice. Express a lemon peel over the cocktail and garnish.
