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Ruth Harvey’s Avatar Ruth Harvey
12th May at 17:24
Tried this before the original and it's hard to imagine it could be better....we will see!
Simon Sedgley’s Avatar Simon Sedgley
25th April at 15:26
It's lovely but we'll stick to the original...life's too short for so many ingredients.
Justin Aniello’s Avatar Justin Aniello
16th April at 22:24
Agree on halving the simple syrup, left everything else the same. First time made per the recipe and was a little cloying. Suze is the dominant flavor but everything still comes through, very balanced with perfect hint of bitterness. Like this a smidge over the Vieux Carre however both are excellent and doing different things. A new favorite.
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
21st April at 19:56
Thanks, Justin and others below. Agreed, I've halved the sugar syrup to just 5ml (1 barspoon).
Oliver James’ Avatar Oliver James
21st May 2024 at 19:34
Superb drink, but strongly recommend reducing the sweetness. The bitterness of the Suze really adds depth, but it is knocked out of whack by the Amaretto and the Simple Syrup. I bought a bottle of Suze just for this and I am glad I did!
Ian Fenton’s Avatar Ian Fenton
3rd May 2024 at 11:01
I made it with 20mL Bianco vermouth and no sugar syrup which worked well served straight up, although I did find the Suze a bit too dominant and I would cut that back next time (though I expect the both the extra bitterness and the extra sweetness are required when served on ice).
20th April 2024 at 20:04
Outstanding to be honest. Very surprised by this. I love drinking Vieux carré but this one oh boy...
Asher Günther’s Avatar Asher Günther
22nd June 2023 at 07:28
Incredible drink. Personally I found the recipe as written slightly lacking in the bite I want from a spirit-forward drink, but upping to 3cl of each spirit solved that. I was initially skeptical about the 2:1 syrup:Amaretto ratio, but the Amaretto shines through more than you'd imagine. Love what the Suze brings without becoming overpowering.
Kelley Reece’s Avatar Kelley Reece
5th May 2022 at 23:00
I liked this a lot! This may be heretical but I think you could almost skip the vermouth… delicious recipe regardless.
Andy Parnell-Hopkinson’s Avatar Andy Parnell-Hopkinson
15th April 2022 at 17:10
So many ingredients - and this selection - should be illegal. But goddammit it's divine.
John McTague’s Avatar John McTague
31st July 2021 at 22:36
Really enjoyed this. Reduced the simple syrup by half.
Bertrand Péraut’s Avatar Bertrand Péraut
5th November 2021 at 19:50
I agree about the syrup !
Melissa Demian’s Avatar Melissa Demian
18th June 2021 at 22:30
I took down the bourbon by about 5 ml because I found it dominated an otherwise complex cocktail, and substituted my homemade whitebeam liqueur for the amaretto. Absolutely gorgeous. P.S. To the previous commenter, cocktails don't have genders.
Per Lennart’s Avatar Per Lennart
22nd May 2021 at 20:12
Love the complexity of this one! Bitter, yet sweet, thanks to the perfect marriage of Suze (well worth getting a bottle specifically for this cocktail) with a humble but essential dose of amaretto.

Great variation for all lovers of Vieux Carré. And sure, this may be the more feminine of the two, but IMHO they're both perfectly unisex.
Simon Dare’s Avatar Simon Dare
16th May 2021 at 09:00
Delightfully unctuous. Spirit spice with gentle syrupy feel. Love it.
Geoff B.’s Avatar Geoff B.
27th April 2021 at 05:04
Now one of my favorites of all time along side the Vieux Carré. Deliciously supple with spicy notes, aromatic, yet smooth and complex. A drink for anytime and has a sweetness that keeps bringing you back for more. Thank you for putting this out there, Simon.
David M.’s Avatar David M.
27th April 2021 at 05:01
This is a great cocktail! Don’t be intimidated by the long ingredient list. Extremely balanced with gentian bitterness offset by the sweetness of a touch of amaretto. (I don’t have Suze, but have been using Gran Classico. 1/3oz is definitely bitter, 1/4 is subtler).