5 Iconic New Orleans Cocktails to Make Tonight

New Orleans’s love affair with spirits is a major reason for the city’s party reputation. But there’s a whole lot more to it than just the boozy revelry of Bourbon Street. As one of the nation’s oldest and most culturally eclectic cities, there are an enormous variety of influences on the city’s drinking culture, from France to the Caribbean and beyond. If you’re looking to mix up your cocktail repertoire, these southern classics are a fantastic place to start. 

Below are five iconic New Orleans cocktails that taste amazing—and have undoubtedly left a few people going to confession the next day. 

The Sazerac’s origins are surrounded in mystery. No one’s exactly sure who invented it. Some claim early recipes used cognac, while others insist it was always a rye drink. Whatever the history, Bulleit Rye is a good choice for this drink of legend.

Fill a rocks glass with ice. Coat the inside with absinthe. Stir and let sit. Add sugar or simple syrup, bitters, and rye into a mixing glass with ice. Stir. Empty the serving glass. Strain the mixing glass into the serving glass. Garnish.

Vieux Carré is the French name for the “old square,” a.k.a, the French Quarter, the neighborhood it was created in back in the 1930s. This rye recipe uses Wyoming Whiskey’s Outryder, and will have you coming back for seconds. 

Combine ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Stir to chill. Strain into a rocks glass over ice and garnish.

It’s been around since the 1930s, but the boozy A La Louisiane, a variation on the Vieux Carré and the Sazerac, often gets overlooked. This bold cocktail recipe uses Redemption High Rye Whiskey, and will not disappoint.

Combine ingredients into a mixing glass over ice. Stir and strain into a chilled coupe, then add garnish.

Named after the French 75mm artillery from World War One, this classic recipe combines gin (like Beefeater London Dry Gin) and sparkling wine into a simple, bright, and refreshing drink.

Combine gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice in a shaker with ice and shake for 15 seconds. Strain into a champagne flute or coupe. Add sparkling wine and garnish. 

This crowd-pleasing New Orleans classic can be made with brandy or bourbon, like Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Bourbon. Because this cocktail goes down so easily, it may also be the source of some parties gone awry.

Combine ingredients into a shaker and shake to chill and froth. Strain into a rocks glass with cracked ice. Garnish with a grating of fresh nutmeg.