Louisiana’s Original Cocktails

Pair your meal with a little bit of history. Check out the stories behind these cocktails original to Louisiana, then come on over and taste them yourself!

Brandy Milk Punch: Usually enjoyed during the holiday season for brunch, this classic cocktail is a rich and creamy way to start, enhance or end your NYE. While the Brandy Milk Punch wasn’t invented in New Orleans, one of the world’s top brunch restaurants Brennan’s Restaurant takes much-deserved credit for perfecting it and is a great place to try this creamy cocktail.

Vieux Carre Cocktail: This eye-opening libation was invented in New Orleans in 1937 by Hotel Monteleone head bartender Walter Bergeron. It’s bold, and richly spiced and sure to warm you from the inside out. Featuring Benedictine, Cognac, Rye whiskey and sweet vermouth, this cocktail is a slow-sipper that will help you make it to midnight!

Sazerac: We would be remiss not to mention the official cocktail of New Orleans and the drink widely known as “America’s First Cocktail,” the Sazerac. We like to call it the perfect representation of Louisiana in a glass. The cocktail gets it's name from the delicious Sazerac rye whiskey and blends in Herbsaint, Peychaud's Bitters, sugar and lemon peel for a classic cocktail. Try it at the aptly named Sazerac Bar at The Roosevelt Hotel, swing by The Sazerac House to explore the history of this libation with interactive exhibits and tastings or grab the recipe and start sipping this legendary cocktail.

French 75: It’s not New Year’s Eve without some bubbles so pop the champagne and have yourself a French 75. Combining bubbly with lemon and cognac, this classic cocktail is a tasty way to welcome the new year. For the perfect French 75, stop by the bar with the cocktail in its name, Arnaud's Restaurant French 75 Bar. Signature drinks here are made with high-quality spirits, locally sourced ingredients and house-made syrups. Known for its white-tuxedoed bartenders, the French 75 Bar welcomes guests in surroundings that transport you back to yesteryear, including mosaic tile floors, cushioned chairs and a vintage wooden bar custom built in the late 1800s.

Grasshopper: Mint-chocolate haters, look away! This sweet after-dinner drink is made of five different spirits, including chocolate and mint liqueurs and brandy, mixed with cream. As history tells, Tujague’s owner Philip Guichet Sr. traveled to New York City to enter a cocktail competition in 1918, on the very eve of Prohibition. He entered this frothy concoction and won second place. He then brought the recipe home to Tujague’s in New Orleans, where it remains a popular staple.

There are tons of options when it comes to making your spirits bright with spirits made right here in Louisiana so check out this list of local distillers and stock your bar for every occasion.