Legend has it that the cocktail was invented in New Orleans. Whether or not that’s 100 percent true, there is no denying that many a cocktail has been birthed in the Crescent City, undoubtedly the lodestar of American drinking culture.
Here, where drinks can be ordered to go and drive-through daiquiri shacks rule, cocktails from frothy to serious await. Start and end your pub crawl at NOPSI’s rooftop bar with views of New Orleans stretching as far as the eye can see.
Cocktail wags largely agree that the Sazerac is one of the oldest examples of the American cocktail. Smoky, slightly sweet with just an insinuation of bitterness, the drink itself is downright simple. Good rye whisky, Peychaud’s bitters, sugar, a chilled glass rinsed with Absinthe and a healthy dose of oil from a wide ribbon of lemon peel sets the stage for perfection.
For something a bit frothier, harken back to 1888 when bar owner Henry "Carl" Ramos invented the Ramos gin fizz, a sprightly shake of citrus, gin, egg white and orange flower water. A favorite of notorious past governor Huey P. Long, this classy craft libation is sure to leave telltale traces on your upper lip.
Beth D'Addono is a food and travel writer based in New Orleans. Her new book is 100 Things to do in New Orleans Before You Die.
Contributor USAToday.com/10Best
SATW Twitter:@bethdaddono
