On a sweltering hot New Orleans day (or even a temperate Seattle evening), a simple Sazerac is a welcome refresher. These frozen cubes of water, simple syrup, absinthe and Peychaud’s bitters close the gap between you and that glassful of whiskey satisfaction. Drop one cube into a glass, add a pour of rye whiskey (or Cognac if you want to invoke the cocktail’s historical origins), and start drinking. Sip quickly if you want to feel that whiskey kick, or let the cube languish and melt if you prefer that silky, soothing, anise-tinged sweetness.