The Sazerac is a classic New Orleans cocktail, easy drinking the whole year round (not just during Mardi Gras). H. Joseph Ehrmann, owner of Elixir , and Jonny Raglin, bar manager of Absinthe , both in San Francisco, describe what makes the perfect Sazerac: the right whiskey, bitters, and absinthe mixed in just the right balance. Optional, though recommended: Watch the video while sipping your own Sazerac