Vieux Carré
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA | DECEMBER 2025
Presented by Sazerac de Forge
We finished our year with a rare December Supper, celebrating the festive season with another rarity: a Supper right in the middle of a city’s downtown. We set the table on the top floor of the Sazerac House, a beautiful building in New Orleans’ French Quarter, steeped in the storied history of this special town and filled with beautiful objects telling the story of Sazerac’s almost-400-year legacy. While many people know Sazerac these days for their famous Rye Whiskey, we were there to celebrate the original spirit behind the brand — and the iconic Sazerac cocktail — cognac, and Sazerac de Forge. The table was set with wine grapes as a nod to the French vineyards that birthed the spirit, and custom napkins portraying the Sazerac House itself, in the style of Parisian street cafes.
The food as was festive as the surroundings. We enjoyed a Columbian-inspired holiday feast from Chef Edgar Caro, who delighted us with several of his family’s favorite holiday recipes elevated for the occasion. Each course was paired with beautiful wines from Ancient Oak Cellars and curated selections from The Zero Proof. Additionally, we used the meal to taste through the exclusive portfolio of Sazerac de Forge cognacs. Everyone had the opportunity to enjoy each unique expression neat after enjoying Sazerac-based cocktails during our welcome social, which was set amongst the sprawling museum displays downstairs.
The evening felt a bit like an after-hours social, blending the vibes of a speakeasy with the French-colonial aesthetic of the city, the flavors of a South American holiday meal, the classic winemaking traditions of Cognac, and the New World terroir of the Russian River Valley — the whole experience an exciting, indefinable blend of cultural celebration fitting for the ineffable, exuberant spirit of New Orleans itself.
WELCOME
Guests were greeted by a welcome sip of Cognac French 125’s before climbing the House’s grand staircase, winding their way up a multi-story stretch of glowing bottles fit for an art-nouveau museum display. Once on the third floor, guests were passed appetizers while wandering through the historic displays showcasing the intertwined history of New Orleans and the Sazerac brand. There were two hidden bars, one in the old Peychaud’s apothecary, where the bitters are still made today, and another behind a wood-paneled wall in the corner, which opened into a French-inspired speakeasy bar serving classic Sazeracs, made with cognac according to the original recipe.
A MENU BY EDGAR CARO
Chef Edgar Caro from South American Steakhouse Brasa, based his menu around classic Columbian holiday dishes, including his daughters’ favorite Christmas morning soup. The menu was festive and warm with bright South American flavors that made everyone feel both at home and transported somewhere totally new.
MENU
WELCOME
Empanadillas de Carne
White Corn Arepita
French 125 Sazerac de Forge XO Cognac, sparkling wine, lemon
Sazerac Sazerac XO Cognac, Herbsaint, Peychaud’s bitters
Lapo’s Melograno Mule
Oddbird Blanc de Blancs
FIRST
Chuyaco blue crab, fennel, citrus, herbs
Wine: 2022 Ancient Oak Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
Zero Proof: Saint Viviana Sauvignon Blanc
SECOND
Ajiaco chicken, papa criolla mirepoix, guasca
Sazerac de Forge XO Cognac
Wine: 2023 Ancient Oak Pinot Noir, Siebert Ranch, Russian River Valley
Zero Proof: Leitz Riesling
MAIN
Posta Negra tamarind-braised beef short ribs
Lechona pork belly, coco apastelao rice
Elotes Almondine lemon zest
Sazerac de Forge Grande Champagne Vintage 2000 Cognac
Wine: 2018 Ancient Oak Zinfandel, Pagnano Vineyard, Russian River Valley
Zero Proof: Oddbird Addiction
LAGNIAPPE
Raspo satsuma granita, roasted pineapple ice cream
DESSERT
Smore’s Pie dark chocolate tartlet, torched marshmallow, coffee chocolate ganache
Sazerac de Forge 50 year old Cognac
Zero Proof: Parch Spiced Piñarita
WINE PAIRINGS
We met Melissa from Ancient Oaks at the Russian River Valley Paulée a few years ago, and have developed a wonderful friendship since. She sent a few of her favorite wines to pair with Chef Edgar’s celebratory meal, highlighting the beauty of her Chardonnay with seafood and the depth that the Zinfandel coaxed out of the Lechon entrée. Each wine was a luxurious accompaniment to the celebratory meal.
NIGHTCAP
After a meal full of tastings of Sazerac’s increasingly exclusive selections, we ended the evening with Sazerac de Forge 50 Year Cognac, an incredibly rare blend decanted straight from the barrel for us to share with our guests. It was a perfect toast to end a truly special evening, and a perfect last sip to end our 2025 Supper season!
SECRET LOCATION: SAZERAC HOUSE
The Sazerac House sits in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, offering a step back into time for anyone who walks through its doors. The four-story building is the result of ambitious design, and offers a self-guided experience through the history and development of Sazerac Rye, Peychaud’s bitters, and the Sazerac brand, tracing its origins from the vineyards of France through American prohibition and into today.
While we explored the public floors during our welcome social, the top floor is typically reserved for exclusive, private experiences. Luckily, we know someone who was able to sneak us up the elevator for Supper in the historic building’s wood paneled ballroom.
