New Orleans is known for having a unique culture and a very active nightlife with much of the nighttime entertainment happening on Bourbon Street. People can go and explore the distinctive way of life here, and do so without having to ever venture on Bourbon Street if that is not their thing. For those of you that cannot think of a trip to New Orleans without visiting this infamous street then you need to try at least one of these well know concoctions. Maybe you have tried some of these drinks before and loved them and are looking for something new to try or maybe you have never even heard of them, either way your taste buds are in for quite the treat. So, kick back, relax, and try one or all of these special mixed drinks. We have even included the recipes so that you can make your own at home, although it is never the same as the real deal.

Drink: The Pimm’s Cup

New Orleans Restaurant: Napoleon House

Drink Recipe: Fill a 12-oz glass with ice and add 1-1/4 oz of Pimm’s #1 and 3 oz of lemonade. Top it off with 7-Up or ginger ale and garnish it with a cucumber.

Although it is hard to recreate the original you can try to mix up this drink at home using this recipe. Only six people know the actual secret recipe, but this one will give you a good idea of what the real cocktail tastes like. This tasty beverage that people enjoy today was first used in the late 1800’s to help with digestion. This gin-based drink recipe calls for dry gin, liqueur, fruit juices, and spices. Come check out this fine New Orleans restaurant and take in the history of it while sipping on your spicy, fruity brew. The name for this 200 year old establishment comes from the fact that it was offered as a refuge to Napoleon during his exile in 1821, and it has since become one of the most popular bars to visit.

Drink: The Goody/Vieux Carre

New Orleans Restaurant: Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone

Drink Recipe: 1-oz each dark rum, light rum, Orgeat, 2-oz orange juice, 1-oz pineapple juice

Vieux Carre Recipe: 1/2 teaspoon Benedictine, dash of Peychaud, dash Angostra, 1/3 shot each rye whiskey, cognac and dry vermouth

The Carousel Bar is quite popular as it was voted best bar in New Orleans by National Geographic. It is unique in the fact that it is a revolving bar and it makes one complete revolution every 15 minutes. Many famous people have frequented this bar such as Truman Capote, William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, and Michael Jordan. It is said that Vieux Carre and The Goody were mixed up by bartenders working at this bar and they helped to make these drinks famous.

Drink: The Hurricane

New Orleans Restaurant: Pat O’Briens

Drink Recipe: Although you can buy the exact mix used at each Pat O’Briens location, you can also mix up your own recipe. You’ll need 2-oz of light rum, 2-oz of dark rum, 2-oz of passion fruit juice, 1-oz of orange juice, just from half a lime, 1-tbsp of simple syrup, 1-tbsp of grenadine and an orange slice and cherry for garnish.

In 1933 Pat O’Brien opened this establishment where locals could come to enjoy a legal drink as prohibition was coming to a close at this time. This bar really became famous when they introduced their new cocktail, the Hurricane in the 1940’s. It is said that no trip to New Orleans is complete without visiting Pat O’Briens for a traditional Hurricane. You can make this drink at home using their New Orleans signature drink mix, and you can even take home a signature glass as well. This drink is famous, exceptionally good, extremely sweet, and contains a high amount of alcohol so consume with caution.