Top Cocktail Events in New Orleans: Seasonal Must-Visits

New Orleans, renowned for its vibrant cocktail scene, hosts an array of must-attend seasonal cocktail events throughout the year. From the lively celebrations of Mardi Gras to the prestigious Tales of the Cocktail festival, these events showcase the city’s rich mixology heritage, featuring top local bartenders, unique cocktail creations, and lively atmospheres. Attending these cocktail events offers a chance to savor innovative drinks, learn about New Orleans’ cocktail history, and mingle with fellow enthusiasts.

TL;DR

• New Orleans hosts numerous seasonal cocktail events showcasing the city’s mixology traditions
• These events feature talented bartenders, innovative cocktail creations, and festive atmospheres
• Attendees can sample unique drinks, explore cocktail history, and connect with fellow enthusiasts

Mardi Gras Cocktail Celebrations

Mardi Gras season, which typically runs from January to February or early March, features an array of cocktail-focused events and parties across the city. Many bars and restaurants offer special Mardi Gras-themed cocktail menus featuring classic New Orleans drinks with festive twists. Popular Mardi Gras cocktails include the Hurricane, a rum-based drink with passion fruit and citrus juices; the Sazerac, a whiskey or cognac cocktail with absinthe and bitters; the Vieux Carré, a complex cocktail with rye whiskey, cognac, sweet vermouth, and bitters; and the King Cake Martini, a dessert-inspired cocktail with vanilla vodka, cinnamon, and cream.

During Mardi Gras, you can expect to find lively celebrations at popular cocktail bars like Arnaud’s French 75 Bar (813 Bienville St), known for its eponymous French 75 cocktail, and Carousel Bar & Lounge (214 Royal St) at Hotel Monteleone, famous for its rotating carousel bar. These establishments often feature live music, festive decorations, and special Mardi Gras cocktail menus.

Mardi Gras Cocktail Walking Tours

For a more immersive experience, consider joining a guided walking tour that explores the French Quarter’s historic bars and their signature Mardi Gras cocktails. Knowledgeable guides share stories about each bar’s history and its connection to Mardi Gras traditions while participants get to sample iconic Mardi Gras drinks at multiple stops along the tour route.

One popular tour operator is Gray Line New Orleans, which offers a “New Orleans Original Cocktail Walking Tour” that visits historic bars like Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, Arnaud’s French 75 Bar, and Tujague’s. The tour typically lasts 2-3 hours and includes samples of classic cocktails at each stop. Prices start at around $30 per person, and tours usually depart from the Gray Line Lighthouse Ticket Office at Toulouse St and the Mississippi River.

Tales of the Cocktail Festival

The annual Tales of the Cocktail festival, held in July, is a multi-day celebration of the art of mixology and cocktail culture. The event features seminars, tastings, competitions, and networking events for industry professionals and cocktail enthusiasts, attracting top bartenders, brand ambassadors, and spirits experts from around the world.

The festival takes place at various venues throughout the city, with the Royal Sonesta New Orleans (300 Bourbon St) serving as the main hub. Attendees can purchase tickets for individual events or opt for a full-access pass, which grants entry to all seminars, tastings, and parties. Prices vary depending on the ticket type and event, with individual seminar tickets starting at around $60 and full-access passes costing several hundred dollars.

Tales of the Cocktail Tasting Rooms

During the Tales of the Cocktail festival, tasting rooms are set up throughout the event venues, offering opportunities to sample a wide variety of spirits and cocktails. Each room focuses on a different theme, such as whiskey, gin, tiki drinks, or New Orleans classics. Brand representatives are on hand to discuss their products and provide tasting notes and cocktail recipes.

Tasting rooms are typically open to all festival attendees, and samples are included in the price of admission. Some popular tasting rooms from past festivals include the “Rum Shack,” featuring a variety of rum brands and tropical cocktails; the “Gin Palace,” showcasing the versatility of gin in classic and contemporary drinks; and the “New Orleans Classics” room, highlighting the city’s signature cocktails like the Sazerac, Hurricane, and Ramos Gin Fizz.

Réveillon Cocktail Dinners

Réveillon dinners are a New Orleans holiday tradition, with many restaurants offering special prix-fixe menus during the Christmas season. Some restaurants partner with local distilleries or bartenders to create cocktail pairings for each course, showcasing the creativity of New Orleans’ culinary and mixology scenes while celebrating the holiday season.

One notable restaurant that offers Réveillon cocktail dinners is Arnaud’s (813 Bienville St), a classic Creole fine dining establishment in the French Quarter. Their Réveillon menu typically includes four to five courses, each paired with a custom cocktail created by the restaurant’s award-winning bar team. Prices for Réveillon dinners vary by restaurant but generally range from $50 to $100 per person, excluding tax and gratuity.

Réveillon Cocktail Recipes

Many restaurants and bars share their Réveillon cocktail recipes online or in printed guides, allowing home bartenders to recreate these festive drinks and enjoy a taste of New Orleans during the holidays. Popular Réveillon cocktails often feature seasonal ingredients like cranberries, spices, and cream-based liqueurs.

One example is the “Réveillon Martini” from Arnaud’s French 75 Bar, which combines vodka, St. Germain elderflower liqueur, cranberry juice, and a splash of champagne. Another favorite is the “Spiced Rum Eggnog” from Brennan’s (417 Royal St), featuring spiced rum, cognac, heavy cream, egg yolks, sugar, and nutmeg. These recipes are often shared on the restaurants’ websites or social media pages during the holiday season.

New Orleans Bourbon Festival

The annual New Orleans Bourbon Festival, held in March, celebrates all things bourbon, from tastings to educational seminars. The festival brings together bourbon distilleries, enthusiasts, and experts for a weekend of bourbon-centric events, including exclusive tastings, bourbon dinners, and the Great Bourbon Debate panel discussion.

The festival takes place at various venues throughout the city, with the Royal Sonesta New Orleans (300 Bourbon St) serving as the main hub. Attendees can purchase tickets for individual events or opt for a VIP pass, which grants access to exclusive tastings and seminars. Prices vary depending on the ticket type and event, with individual tasting tickets starting at around $50 and VIP passes costing several hundred dollars.

Bourbon Festival Cocktail Competition

One of the highlights of the New Orleans Bourbon Festival is the cocktail competition, which challenges local bartenders to create innovative bourbon-based cocktails. Competitors must use sponsor brands and incorporate a mystery ingredient revealed on the day of the event. Winning cocktails are often added to the menus of participating bars and restaurants.

The cocktail competition typically takes place on the final day of the festival and is open to the public. Attendees can sample the competing cocktails and vote for their favorites, while a panel of expert judges selects the overall winner. Past winning cocktails have included creative concoctions like the “Bourbon Street Sour,” featuring bourbon, lemon juice, honey syrup, and a red wine float, and the “Smoked Pecan Old Fashioned,” with bourbon, pecan syrup, and smoked bitters.