From the Sazerac to the Grasshopper, New Orleans gave America some of its greatest cocktails.
Every summer for the past 23 years, the cocktail world has converged on New Orleans for Tales of the Cocktail, one of the industry’s premier gatherings, where bartenders, distillers, drinks writers, brand ambassadors, and cocktail enthusiasts come together to celebrate the craft. It’s a fitting backdrop for revisiting the city that has shaped American drinking culture more profoundly than almost anywhere else.
Related: The Spirited Awards Just Announced Its Top 4 Finalists for 2026
Few cities can rival New Orleans’ cocktail legacy, from enduring classics like the Sazerac, Brandy Crusta, Vieux Carré, Hurricane, and Grasshopper to modern creations inspired by neighborhoods and bars across the Crescent City. Whether you’re sipping beneath the revolving ceiling of the Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone, cooling off with a Frozen Irish Coffee at Erin Rose, exploring contemporary cocktail havens like Cure and Jewel of the South, or attending Tales of the Cocktail’s biggest night — the Spirited Awards — it’s nearly impossible not to drink well in New Orleans. These recipes celebrate the city’s remarkable history, its enduring influence on American cocktails, and the bartenders who continue to carry that tradition forward…