Name: Vieille Place
Total time: 3 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 25 ml Bourbon whiskey; 25 ml Cognac (brandy); 20 ml Gentian liqueur; 15 ml Dry vermouth; 5 ml Amaretto liqueur; 5 ml Sugar syrup 'rich' (2:1); 1 dash Creole bitters; 1 dash Aromatic bitters

Ingredients

⁵⁄₆ fl oz

Bourbon whiskey

⁵⁄₆ fl oz

Cognac (brandy)

²⁄₃ fl oz

Gentian liqueur Gentian liqueur (e.g. Suze, Avèze, Salers)

¹⁄₂ fl oz

Strucchi Dry Vermouth

¹⁄₆ fl oz

Adriatico Amaretto Liqueur

¹⁄₆ fl oz

Sugar syrup 'rich' (2 sugar to 1 water) 65.0°Brix

1 dash

Peychaud's or other Creole-style bitters

1 dash

Angostura Aromatic Bitters

How to make

Glass

Prepare

Select and pre-chill an OLD-FASHIONED GLASS.

Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist.

Method

STIR all ingredients with ice.

STRAIN into ice-filled glass (preferably over a large cube or chunk of block ice).

Garnish

EXPRESS lemon zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Vieille Place contains 207 calories

Alcohol content:

1.7 standard drinks
24.39% alc./vol. (48.78° proof)
23.4 grams of pure alcohol

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Dry vermouth — Sulphur Dioxide/Sulphites

History

Adapted from a recipe created in 2018 by Robbie Neskens at Bruut, Hasselt, Belgium. Robbie says, "This cocktail is a twist on the classic Vieux Carré. Vieux Carré and Vieille Place both have the same meaning: Old Square. With the difference Vieux Carré being masculine and Vieille Place feminine."

Comments & Discussion

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John CARR Premium Member 1y

Noting comments below re the bitterness. With the Suze and two different bitters, I def noticed a very definite (unpleasant) after tang of bitterness. I’d suggest go easy on the dashes of bitters; the Suze itself was well balanced. Can’t say this world be my favourite - I’d prob stick to a Vieux carré and have fun playing with individual ingredients 😀

John CARR Premium Member 15w

On a revisit, did enjoy this. Compared to vieux carré it was drier and more distinctly bitter due to the absence of honeyed Benedictine. As an Affinity is to a Rob Roy. Not sure re difference to previous making, but I thoroughly enjoyed it this evening! Everything really nicely balanced Wild Turkey 101 and Martell Blue Swift, BT aromatic bitters which I’m really enjoying currently 😇🦄🌈🧸

Calvin Grant Premium Member 8w

Can't wait to try. Just revisited L'Heritage with Calvados. Very nice!

Ruth Harvey 1y

Tried this before the original and it's hard to imagine it could be better....we will see!

Simon Sedgley Premium Member 1y

It's lovely but we'll stick to the original...life's too short for so many ingredients.

Justin Aniello 1y

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 Verified User Premium Member 1y

Thanks, Justin and others below. Agreed, I've halved the sugar syrup to just 5ml (1 barspoon).

Oliver James 2y

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 2y

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).

Florian Berry 2y

Outstanding to be honest. Very surprised by this. I love drinking Vieux carré but this one oh boy...

Asher Günther 3y

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.