Mardi Gras is among us, and just because you’re not in New Orleans doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate! Pull out the beads and face masks, whip up a delicious King Cake, and sip on one or two (no one’s counting) of these must-have Mardi Gras cocktails!
Hurricane – This delicious mix of light and dark rums, fruit juices and a splash of Galliano is a staple on the New Orleans’ Mardi Gras scene.
2 oz dark rum
1 oz passion fruit syrup
1 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice
Combine all ingredients in a shaker over ice. Shake and strain into an ice-filled glass. Garnish with an orange slice and cherry.
Sazerac – The official cocktail of the city of New Orleans! (Recipe)
2 oz. rye whiskey
1/2 oz. simple syrup
2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
Absinthe or Herbsaint
Ice cubes
Give chilled glass an absinthe or Herbsaint rinse and set aside. Stir other ingredients in a mixing glass, strain into the chilled glass and garnish.
Daiquiri – This fruity frozen beverage can even be found at drive-thrus down in New Orleans. (Allrecipes)
6 cups ice
1/2 cup white sugar
4 ounces frozen strawberries
1/8 cup lime juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
3/4 cup rum
1/4 cup lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage
In a blender, combine ice, sugar and strawberries. Pour in lime juice, lemon juice, rum and lemon-lime soda. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve.
Ramos Gin Fizz – Originally called the New Orleans Fizz, the beverage was inducted into New Orlean’s Museum of the American Cocktail. (Recipe)
1 1/2 cups ice
2 fluid ounces gin
2 fluid ounces cold half-and-half
1/2 fluid ounce lemon juice
1/2 fluid ounce lime juice
2 teaspoons white sugar
1 egg white
3 dashes orange flower water
1 dash vanilla extract (optional)
1 fluid ounce cold club soda, or as needed
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in gin, half and half, lemon juice, and lime juice. Add sugar, egg white, orange flower water, and vanilla extract. Shake vigorously; rest a second, then shake a little more. Strain into a tall cocktail glass. Top off with club soda.
Hand Grenades – This sweet and very strong drink can be found in the hands of just about everybody during Mardi Gras! But pace yourself people – this drinks is straight alcohol.
1 1/2 oz gin
1 1/2 oz grain alcohol
1 1/2 oz melon liqueur
1 1/2 oz rum
1 1/2 oz vodka
Stir ingredients together in a collins glass filled with ice cubes. Add water and sugar if desired, to taste, and serve.
