12 Famous New Orleans Cocktails  

One of the best things to do when visiting New Orleans, Louisiana is indulging in the city’s fantastic cocktail culture. Whereas many cities specialize in craft breweries or wineries, in Crescent City, cocktails are the name of the game.  The Sazerac is considered America’s first cocktail and according to many, it was born in New Orleans. Whether any of that is true is hotly debated, but New Orleans is the birthplace of many American iconic cocktails.  

Besides being home to stellar drinks, Nola is also home to some of America’s oldest and most historic watering holes. Places like The Sazerac Bar, The Olde Absinthe House, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop and Napoleon House are iconic. In New Orleans, cocktails are also commonly a part of the city’s fine dining culture as wine is elsewhere.  What would a meal at Brennan’s be without a Brandy Milk Punch, for example?  Cocktails and fine dining are a way of life in New Orleans.  

Fittingly, New Orleans is home to The Museum of the American Cocktail housed in the Southern Food & Beverage Museum. The city also offers many fun and informative cocktail tours for cocktail enthusiasts like me who want to learn more. The haunted pub crawl hits a few of the best bars in New Orleans with a side of spooky history. Without further ado here are 12 famous New Orleans cocktails and the best bars in New Orleans to find them.   

1. A Sazerac from The Sazerac Bar  

Let’s kick off this list with what is largely considered America’s original mixed drink: The Sazerac. A Sazerac is a cocktail with Peychaud’s Bitters, absinthe, and a lemon twist, made with rye whiskey, cognac or bourbon. A Sazerac is considered one of the classiest and most iconic New Orleans cocktails. The original Sazerac was born on Royal Street and is widely available in New Orleans. If you are looking for the best spot to enjoy a Sazerac in a classic and refined setting, head to The Roosevelt Hotel. As a random fact, The Sazerac is so entrenched in New Orleans history the drink has its very own museum, The Sazerac House where you can learn more about it. If you want a classic, you can’t go wrong with one of the original New Orleans cocktails.  

Where to get it: The Sazerac Bar 

Address: 130 Roosevelt Way, New Orleans, LA 70130 

How to make a Sazerac via The Sazerac House   

2. A Hurricane from Pat O’ Brien’s  

Pat O’ Brien’s on Bourbon Street is largely thought to be the birthplace of the famous Hurricane. The iconic Nola cocktail dates to the World War II era. During the 1940s, domestic liquor was in short supply while there was a massive rum surplus from the Caribbean. The availability of rum inspired bar owners to come up with a new rum-based cocktail called the hurricane. A hurricane is a sugary sweet cocktail of rum, passion fruit, orange and lime juice, simple syrup, grenadine, and fruit. Head to the beautiful backyard courtyard at Pat O’ Brien’s to enjoy the original. Many tout the hurricane as one of the best cocktails in New Orleans. Be sure to get a keepsake glass and their signature hurricane mix to enjoy another round once you’re back home.   

Where to get it: Pat O’ Brien’s  

Address: 624 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130 

How to make a Hurricane via neworleans.com 

3. Pimm’s Cup from Napoleon House  

The Pimm’s Cup is a drink first created in Europe before taking off in The Big Easy. The drink became so popular in 1940s New Orleans that many locals tried to claim ownership over it.  A Pimm’s Cup is a cocktail made with Pimm’s No. 1, lemonade and 7-Up for a simple and refreshing drink. For those not familiar, Pimm’s No. 1 is a gin-based liqueur with an herbal spice to it.  

The best spot to get a Pimm’s Cup is at Napoleon House where the drink first popped up in New Orleans. Built in 1794, the historic landmark was intended as a place of refuge for Napoleon Bonaparte after his exile. Napoleon House is one of the most famous bars in New Orleans, and the patio is a lovely spot to hang out. Grab a cold Pimm’s Cup with a hot muffuletta in the historic digs at Napoleon House for a classic New Orleans experience. Life doesn’t get much better.  

Where to get it: Napoleon House  

Address: 500 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130 

How to make a Pimm’s Cup via neworleans.com 

4. Ramos Gin Fizz from Bar Tonique 

The frothy creation that is the Ramos Gin Fizz is another so-called New Orleans Original. The Ramos Gin Fizz is a complex drink made of gin, heavy cream, lemon and lime juice, club soda, orange blossom water, egg white and simple syrup. The ingredients are shaken together to create the fizz with a frothy texture and foamy head.  Many liken the Ramos Gin Fizz to a Pina Colada without the coconut with a bit more of a sour taste.   

While the drink is a favorite of locals, creating the drink is a royal pain despised by many Nola bartenders. As the drink contains cream and egg whites, it requires extensive shaking to get the texture right. The egg white needs to be whipped into a meringue to ensure a firm form on top. The drink reportedly takes a whopping 12-15 minutes of shaking to make. It’s pretty much a full upper arm workout to create, so tip your bartenders generously if making one, okay?  

Where to get it: Bar Tonique 

Address: 820 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116  

How to make a Ramos Gin Fizz via neworleans.com  

5. Hand Grenade from Tropical Isle  

Let me introduce you to the most controversial drink in New Orleans: Tropical Isle’s Hand Grenade. The drink is a divisive topic in Nola with most people either loving it or violently reviling its existence. Unapologetic Hand Grenade fans like me appreciate the sweet drink that doesn’t taste one bit like alcohol. Afterall, does anyone really like the taste of alcohol? (I’m looking at you, Absinthe). Cocktail purists believe the neon green sugar bomb of a drink is a kitschy insult to their refined cocktail culture. It’s all a matter of preference. The Hand Grenade haters are wrong though… 

So, what is a Hand Grenade drink, you ask? The recipe is closely guarded, so no one knows for sure. It’s a magical, mystery mix of 13 ingredients including fruit juice, flavored rum, gin and melon liqueur. It is served either frozen or on the rocks, and it’s one of the best cocktails in New Orleans.   

The drink was created by the Tropical Isle Bar in 1984 when it debuted at the New Orleans World Fair. For years afterward, the owners worked to perfect the formula and marketing of their signature drink. The goal was to create the most irresistibly tasty and fun drink imaginable. It had to be epic to compete with the iconic Hurricanes being peddled in lamp glasses across the street. Today, one can hardly walk the Quarter without seeing the bright neon cups at every turn. Mission accomplished, I’d say.   

The Hand Grenade is touted as the “most powerful drink in New Orleans.”  While it may not taste like alcohol, after much first-hand sampling, I can assure you, it’s in there. It reminds me of the nights I drank too much wop at college frat parties thinking it was fruit punch. As I learned back then, if it tastes like it has no alcohol, it likely has ridiculous amounts of alcohol.  

Love it or loathe it, The Hand Grenade is synonymous with New Orleans. The drink is under trademark and is only available at the five licensed Tropical Isle Bars in the city. Give one a try next time you’re in New Orleans.  Unless you hate it, then don’t.  

Where to get it: Tropical Isle  

Address:  721 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130 

How to make a Hand Grenade drink: it’s Nola’s best kept secret so no one knows for sure. Otherwise, I’d be drinking them nightly.  

6. Purple Drink (a.k.a. “The Voodoo Daiquiri”) from Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop  

New Orleans has many sweet cocktail options for the slightly less refined drinkers like me. Some of us prefer our alcoholic drinks to taste like Hawaiian Punch. Enter: The Voodoo Daiquiri or “purple drink” as locals call it.  

Frozen daiquiris are major in southern Louisiana. In the French Quarter, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop serves of their version in Styrofoam cups of purple grape goodness. The Voodoo Daiquiri is made with Everclear 190, bourbon and grape flavoring. Purple Drink gets my vote for one of the most delicious New Orleans cocktails. It also packs a bigger punch than you may think, trust me. Drink with caution friends, this one will get you wobbly in a hurry.   

All visitors to New Orleans should experience a late night at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop. Few things are more fun than passionately belting out tunes around the piano by candlelight with a group of strangers after too much purple drink. If you haven’t closed out the bar after a late night at Lafitte’s, you haven’t lived. It’s one of the best bars in New Orleans, just take my word for it.  

The building is a bit rundown, but that’s truly much of the bar’s charm. Lafitte’s is one of New Orleans oldest bars dating back to the 1700s. Also, it is supposedly haunted. After a few too many daiquiris, you’ll swear it is. Get a daiquiri to go and take a haunted tour of the quarter to learn more about the bar’s storied history.  If you’re thinking about skipping out on Lafitte’s and the Voodoo Daiquiri, don’t.  

Where to get it: Lafitte’s Piano Bar  

Address: 941 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70116 

7. Vieux Carre from The Carousel Bar  

The Vieux Carre is another iconic cocktail created in New Orleans during the 1930s, that is named after the French Quarter. The Vieux Carre is a strong cocktail that combines whiskey, cognac, vermouth, Benedictine and bitters. The taste is like a Manhattan cocktail, with a mix of slightly sweet, spicy and smoky notes. The best place to get one is at the revolving Carousel Bar in the Monteleone Hotel where the drink was created.  

The Carousel Bar is one of the most famous New Orleans bars and the only rotating bar in the city. If you want to enjoy your Vieux Carre at one of the twenty-five seats on the actual carousel, plan to go at non-peak hours or before the bar opens. In New Orleans, it’s considered classy to drink by 11am anyway.  

Where to get it: The Carousel Bar & Lounge 

Address: 214 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130 

How to make a Vieux Carre via Visit New Orleans  

8. Absinthe from The Old Absinthe House  

When in New Orleans, the unofficial rulebook requires you to try an absinthe drink of some kind. Absinthe is not your ordinary alcohol. “The green fairy” as it’s called, is an herb infused alcohol. Absinthe has a wicked high alcohol content of 45-74% by volume, compared to vodka or whiskey at closer to 40%. Absinthe is so strong it was banned in the US during the early 1900s after being linked to hallucinogenic effects like psychosis and seizures.  

Absinthe is legal today and is common in NOLA cocktails such as the absinthe frappe at the Old Absinthe House. An absinthe frappe is made with absinthe, simple syrup, crushed ice and has a black licorice after taste. If you like the taste of poison, order it straight served with a spoon atop the glass with a sugar cube. Absinthe is poured over the sugar cube and then set on fire before being put out with water to dissolve it. Absinthe is for sure one of the most vile and scarring things I’ve ever ingested. The glowing green color probably should have been the first red flag. I think I’d probably rather drink actual poison, but when in New Orleans…YOLO or something. I can’t even imagine what an absinthe hangover must feel like. I don’t think you want to either, so drink responsibly everyone!  

Where to get it: Old Absinthe House  

Address: 240 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70112 

How to make an Absinthe Frappe via neworleans.com 

9. Grasshopper, from Tujague’s  

Many people outside New Orleans are familiar with the chocolate and minty combination that is the grasshopper cocktail. The drink is believed to have been created by Philip Guichet, the owner of Tujague’s in New Orleans. Their recipe for the drink recently changed slightly, with the current version containing heavy whipping cream, crème de menthe, cream de cacao and brandy. The original drink is thought to date back to 1850s France before coming to New Orleans. The tasty minty drink was made for a cocktail contest and ended up a hit, earning second place. The grasshopper tastes like a boozy shamrock shake and I could drink them at Tujague’s all day. Tujague’s is the second oldest restaurant in New Orleans. It recently moved to a new location but retained its absolutely amazing grasshoppers.   

Where to get it: Tujague’s  

Address: 417 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130 

How to make a Grasshopper cocktail via NOLA.com 

10. Brandy Milk Punch from Brennan’s  

NOLA loves to drink, and with Brandy Milk Punch, the cocktails start flowing as early as late breakfast or brunch. Brandy milk punch is a rich and creamy drink comprised of whole milk, brandy, powdered sugar and nutmeg. The drink is served over crushed ice. The creaminess and nutmeg made it feel like a holiday type drink to me, a little like eggnog.  

While the Brandy Milk Punch origins aren’t fully clear, many claim it was born at Brennan’s in the 1940s.  Brandy Milk Punch is considered a local brunch staple so head to Brennan’s to start your day with a creamy punch of brandy. People won’t judge you for sipping one at 10am; it’s considered classy.  

Where to get it: Brennan’s  

Address: 417 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130 

How to make Brandy Milk Punch via neworleans.com  

11. The Café Brulot Diabolique from Antoine’s  

The Café Brulot is one of the most iconic drinks of New Orleans, but it’s so much more. A Café Brulot is not just a drink, but an experience.  The drink was created at Antoine’s back in the 1880s and the name café brulot means “burnt coffee.”  The concoction is a spiced coffee and brandy drink set ablaze! Yes, seriously. The drink is made by combining coffee, sparkling citrus and brandy using a special copper cooking bowl. The waiter then sets the concoction on fire. It is typically an after-dinner treat, and watching one being prepared is part of the fun. The best place to get Café Brulot is where it started at Antoine’s. It is also available at the city’s fine dining establishments like Arnaud’s or Galatoire’s as well.  

Where to get it: Antoine’s  

Address: 713 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130 

How to make Café Brulot via NOLA.com 

12. French 75 from Arnaud’s French 75 Bar  

The French 75 is a favorite libation of New Orleans locals and is a must-try when visiting the city. A French 75 is a bright and bubbly cocktail made with cognac or gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and champagne.  New Orleans purists make it with cognac. While the drink originated in France, New Orleans has resurrected the drink. Today, it is considered one of the more refined cocktails in New Orleans.   

The best place to get one is at the iconic French 75 Bar in Arnaud’s. The French 75 Bar has a rich French throwback feel and was previously awarded a James Beard Award. Sipping anything less elegant than a French 75 at Arnaud’s just feels wrong.  

Where to get it: Arnaud’s French 75 Bar 

Address: 813 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70112 

How to make a French 75 via NOLA.com 

Where To Stay in New Orleans  

If you plan to drink all the New Orleans cocktails (which I encourage you to do), please do so safely. This is your motherly reminder not to drink and drive, friends. Take an Uber or find a friend to drive your drunk butt around town. Better yet, stay in the French Quarter so you can easily stagger back to your hotel. Here are some of my picks for best hotels around the French Quarter:  

• Hotel Monteleone-An elegant, historic hotel 1 block from the French Quarter with heated rooftop hotel. Home to the famous rotating Carousel Bar.  
• Best Western Plus French Quarter Courtyard Hotel-A moderate hotel with pool, lounge and free breakfast just outside the action, a 10 minute walk to Bourbon Street.  
• The Royal Sonesta New Orleans-French quarter hotel right on Bourbon Street with outdoor pool, multiple bars and onsite jazz club.  
• Holiday Inn French Quarter-Chateau Lemoyne-A mid-range historic building hotel within a 5-minute walk of Jackson Square with heated pool and onsite restaurant and bar.  
• Homewood Suites By Hilton New Orleans French Quarter-Sustainable travel French quarter hotel  5 minutes to Bourbon with pool and free breakfast.  

That’s it for my 12 Essential New Orleans Cocktails. What’s your favorite on this list? Do you prefer more of a refined Sazerac or a wacky Hand Grenade drink? I mean, why not enjoy both? Leave me a comment below and let me know what you think!