New Orleans is the spiritual home of the cocktail, and its history is intertwined with grand saloons, fine drinks and jazz. The Ramos Gin Fizz and the Sazerac were born here, as was Ernest Beaumont-Gantt, who would become Donn Beach and originate Tiki culture. People have devoted whole books to the subject of New Orleans drinks but follows the best-known cocktails to have originated in the city.
Sweet aniseed may not sound appealing but you should try an Absinthe Frappé after a large meal on a summer's night before you decide on this...
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An easy-drinking summertime brunch cocktail. You can make this with green crème de menthe if you're into green drinks but an Absinthe Suissesse is...
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Absinthe smoothed with cream and sweet almond.
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Truly the milk of the Gods! Delicate bourbon with a touch of vanilla. Balanced rather than sweet, and milky rather than creamy.
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This finely balanced, brandy-based classic zings with fresh zesty lemon and layers of complexity added by orange curaçao, maraschino liqueur and...
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This traditional New Orleans hangover cure beats your bog-standard vanilla milkshake. (Don't dry shake a Milk Punch as this produces something...
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A rye-based Sweet Manhattan enriched with herbal liqueur and bittered with Peychaud's and absinthe. Originally made with equal parts rye whiskey...
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Bourbon, made easy by a little sugar and dilution with extra interest courtesy of a subtle touch of freshening anise.
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It's hard not to like this creamy slightly sweet minty after-dinner treat.
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The full flavour of Old Tom gin adds an extra dimension to this classic Gin Fizz. Indeed, it is probably the original Gin Fizz.
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What a way to go. A Martini with a splash of the green fairy. I like to use old tom gin to make an Obituary as it sits so much better with the...
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Heavy doses of Creole-style bitters and orange bitters work with dry vermouth to balance this drink's rich sweet vermouth base. A great aperitivo.
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One of the great classic cocktails. The perfect balance of sweet and sour is enhanced by the incredibly smooth, almost fluffy mouthfeel. Some Ramos...
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This bright red, fruity drink is simple but tasty.
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Sweet brandy meets dry cherry eau-de-vie in this serious vodka-laced cocktail. Contemporary bartenders may prefer to stir this cocktail but it's...
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While bartenders in other cities have complicated the Sazerac by using a combination of spirits [us included - Difford's Sazerac recipe], in New...
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If you are rightly concerned about chucking expensive absinthe down the drain then consider straining into a shot glass and serve on the side. The...
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A Sweet Manhattan served on-the-rocks with added herbal complexity and an all-important splash and dash or two of New Orleans bitters. Driven by...
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