12 Must-Try New Orleans Cocktails

The Hurricane is a classic, refreshing cocktail with Prohibition-era origins. You’ll need Jamaican rum, passion fruit juice, and lemon juice for this sweet red drink. There are a lot of myths surrounding this cocktail, but one thing I know for sure is that this tropical beverage always starts a party on the right foot.

The most iconic of New Orleans cocktails, the Sazerac is rye whiskey stirred with a muddled bitters-soaked sugar cube and poured into a glass rinsed with absinthe or anise liqueur. While the recipe sounds like a magic spell, it isn’t hard, doesn’t require many ingredients, and will make you feel like a rock star.

The Vieux Carre, or “Old Neighborhood,” refers to the French Quarter of New Orleans, and the recipe for this one reflects the city’s cultural diversity. The blend of flavors pulls from Italian, French, Caribbean, and American influences. This complex, delicious cocktail requires rye whiskey, cognac, sweet vermouth, Benedictine, Angostura bitters, and Peychaud’s bitters. 

This single-serving Bourbon Milk Punch recipe is also excellent for a party as an alternative to egg nog. You just need bourbon, whole milk, or any milk or milk substitute, vanilla extract, sugar, and fresh nutmeg. Shake, stir, or even blend the Bourbon Milk Punch. Use hot milk if you want something warm for a bitterly cold night. 

Absinthe was illegal because the wormwood was thought to cause hallucinations or death. This green liquor is safe, and this simple and easy Absinthe Frappe is a great place to start. Because absinthe is made from fennel and anise, it has an herbal, black licorice flavor, which some love and some do not. If you’re serious about the New Orleans experience, though, it’s something you have to try. 

The flaming coffee cocktail, Cafe Brulot is a New Orleans dessert favorite that includes Courvoisier, cherry brandy, Bacardi 151, cloves, orange zest, and strong hickory flavored coffee, like that found at the famous Cafe Du Monde. The Cafe Brulot is a warming, delicious, spicy experience, but making it at home is for the brave as it is a long and involved process that includes heating the beverage over an open flame. 

Pimm’s Cup is an easy-to-prepare cocktail made from mid-proof gin, ginger beer, lemon juice, and your fruit of choice. It’s refreshing and bubbly, full of warming spice and refreshing fruit flavors. Because it’s made with a mid-proof gin, it’s great to serve for an all-day gathering or event. 

The French 75, on the other hand, is a champagne cocktail with high alcohol content. The cocktail features gin or cognac, champagne, lemon juice, and simple syrup. The French 75 is sophisticated, zesty, citrusy, and mouth-watering. It’s a perfect accompaniment to a celebration. It also lends itself to many variations and many flavor profile possibilities.

The Hand Grenade is a fruity flavor explosion for your mouth. The name of this cocktail puts it in the novelty category, but the vodka, white rum, gin, melon liqueur, grain alcohol, and pineapple juice pack some serious flavor and strength. Even if you’re stuck at home, you can still party Maris Gras style with the Hand Grenade. Pick up some plastic beads, call over some friends, and you’re good to go!