“Mardi Gras cocktails are not just drinks; they're a jubilant toast to life, embodying the colorful spirit and rich traditions of Carnival season."

Every year, Mardi Gras, Pancake Tuesday, or Fat Tuesday, is a time of celebration, indulgence, and tradition, deeply rooted in the rich tapestry of cultural influences in New Orleans and other parts of the world celebrating Carnival. It's a festival that precedes the Lenten season (the 40 days before Easter that a time of fasting), characterized by parades, masquerade balls, and, of course, plenty of delicious food and drinks.

Among the latter, certain cocktails have become synonymous with Mardi Gras festivities, embodying the spirit and flavors of this vibrant holiday. Below are some Mardi Gras cocktail recipes along with a bit of history behind them.

Did You Know: It's estimated that over 25 million pounds of Mardi Gras beads are thrown from the floats during the Carnival season in New Orleans alone. 🎉

1. The Hurricane

The Hurricane is a quintessential New Orleans cocktail, deeply associated with Mardi Gras. It was created in the 1940s at Pat O'Brien's bar in New Orleans. During World War II, whiskey was hard to come by, and liquor suppliers forced bar owners to buy large quantities of rum to get their hands on more popular liquors.

Pat O'Brien's solution was to create a drink that used up their excess rum, resulting in the Hurricane, named after the lamp-shaped glasses it was served in. The Hurricane is one of the most popular drinks associated with Mardi Gras festivities, and it's a staple at bars and parties throughout the celebration. You can now buy Pat O'Brien's Hurricane Mix* along other fun items through their online gift shop if you're unable to visit in person, which I highly recommend.

Recipe

• 2 oz light rum

• 2 oz dark rum

• 1 oz lime juice

• 1 oz orange juice

• 2 oz passion fruit juice

• ½ oz simple syrup

• ½ oz grenadine

• Garnish: orange slice and cherry

Shake all ingredients with ice, then strain into a hurricane glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.

2. The Sazerac

The Sazerac is one of the oldest known American cocktails, with its creation in New Orleans dating back to the early 19th century. Originally made with cognac and bitters, it evolved to include rye whiskey instead. The Sazerac pays homage to the city's cocktail heritage and is a Mardi Gras staple.

• 2 oz rye whiskey

• 1 sugar cube

• 2 dashes Peychaud's bitters

• Absinthe (to rinse)

• Lemon peel for garnish

Rinse a chilled old-fashioned glass with absinthe, discarding the excess. In a mixing glass, muddle the sugar cube and bitters, add the rye whiskey, and fill with ice. Stir well, strain into the prepared glass, and garnish with a lemon peel.

3. The Vieux Carré

The Vieux Carré, named after the French term for the Old Square (referring to the French Quarter), is a testament to the multicultural heritage of New Orleans. It was created in the 1930s at the Hotel Monteleone, a landmark in the French Quarter, blending rye whiskey, cognac, and sweet vermouth.

• ¾ oz rye whiskey

  

• ¾ oz cognac

• ¾ oz sweet vermouth

• 1 tsp Benedictine liqueur

• 2 dashes Peychaud's bitters

• 2 dashes Angostura bitters

• Garnish: cherry

Mix all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice, stir well, and strain into an old-fashioned glass over ice. Garnish with a cherry.

5. Ramos Gin Fizz

The Ramos Gin Fizz, originally called the New Orleans Fizz, was created in 1888 by Henry C. Ramos at his bar, the Imperial Cabinet Saloon in New Orleans. The drink quickly gained popularity for its unique and labor-intensive preparation, (6 minutes of shaking for each cocktail) becoming a beloved staple of the city's vibrant cocktail scene.

Its fame was such that during the carnival of 1915, it was reported that Ramos employed dozens of "shaker boys" to keep up with demand, each one shaking the mixture for minutes at a time to achieve the cocktail's signature frothy consistency.

The Prohibition era saw the drink's popularity soar even further, as it became a symbol of the opulence and excess that New Orleans was famous for during a time of nationwide abstinence. The Ramos Gin Fizz represents not just the innovation of New Orleans' bartenders but also the city's spirit of indulgence and celebration. Trust me, this cocktail is worth the time it takes to make.

Recipe

• 2 oz gin

• 1 oz heavy cream

• 1 egg white

• 1/2 oz lemon juice

• 1/2 oz lime juice

• 2 tsp superfine sugar

• 2-3 drops of orange flower water

• Club soda, to top

• Ice

In a shaker, combine gin, cream, egg white, lemon juice, lime juice, sugar, and orange flower water. Add a generous amount of ice.

Shake vigorously for at least 1 minute (the original recipe recommends shaking for a full 6 minutes to achieve the right texture, but a minute of vigorous shaking should suffice for a home bartender).

Strain into a tall glass without ice.

Gently pour club soda into the shaker to loosen any remaining froth. Pour this frothy mix over the drink in the glass until it forms a classic frothy "cap" on top.

Optionally, garnish with a drop of orange flower water on the froth. 🍊

The Ramos Gin Fizz is a testament to the creativity and flair of New Orleans' cocktail culture, embodying the city's love for rich, decadent flavors and intricate preparations.

Enjoying a Ramos Gin Fizz during Mardi Gras, or any time of year, offers a sip of history and a taste of the celebratory spirit that defines New Orleans.

I hope this has inspired you to Mardi Gras, in New Orleans to your travel bucket list and to want to try few of these cocktails the next time you're celebrating with friends.

Laissez les bons temps rouler - Let the good times roll!

Want to learn more about sparkling wines and how your can easily incorporate them into your celebrations? Read this blog next.