Page 174 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New Orleans

172  T r A velers ’ N ee D s

What to Drink in New Orleans

A long tradition of good drinking is one of New Orleans’
trademarks. There are a wide variety of cocktails served
throughout the city, some of which were invented here.
Delicious and easy to drink, many are extremely potent
concoctions. The local beers are also worthy: New Orleans
has a top-class microbrewery. The city is a coffee-drinker’s
delight and has its own distinctive chicory-flavored dark Pat O’Brien’s (see p49), where the popular
roast coffee – a favorite of residents and visitors alike. Hurricane was created
Cocktails
New Orleans was the birthplace of many
cocktails. Local pharmacist Antoine Peychaud’s
store was located near the corner of Royal and
St. Louis streets, and he is said to have invented
the cocktail around 1830 when he combined
cognac “Sazerac” mixed with his own bitters
recipe, a drop of water, and a pinch of sugar.
Peychaud mixed this in an egg cup “coquetier,”
which his English-speaking customers
mispronounced as “cocktail.” Today, the Sazerac
is one of New Orleans’ most famous drinks:
The Sazerac The Hurricane Mint Julep rye whiskey (or bourbon) is combined with
bitters and sugar, and flavored with Pernod
and lemon peel.
The Hurricane, served in a special glass, is very
sweet and combines dark rum with passion fruit
and other juices. The Mint Julep is made with
bourbon, sugar, fresh mint, and crushed ice. The
Vieux Carré mixes rye, cognac, vermouth, bitters,
and a dash of Benedictine. For the Obituary
Cocktail, a lethal drink created at Lafitte’s
(see p80), add half a jigger of Pernod to a gin
Martini. Bartender Henry Ramos shook the
first Ramos Gin Fizz in 1888, combining sugar,
Vieux Carré Obituary Ramos orange flower water, citrus juice, gin, egg
Cocktail Cocktail Gin Fizz white, cream, and seltzer into a refreshing drink.
Pousse Café is a mix of six cordials – raspberry
Beer and Wine
and maraschino syrups, crème de menthe,
New Orleans is a beer town. Look for such local curaçao, chartreuse, and cognac.
brews as Abita and Dixie, plus those made by
the microbrewery Crescent City Brewhouse.
A variety of wines are also available Coffee
in the city’s restaurants, New Orleanians love coffee, and it comes
particularly fine French in all roasts and styles.
and California vintages. Community Coffee, French
Market, and CDM are
the three most famous
Louisiana brands. The Café
du Monde (see p78) serves
“café au lait,” the traditional
dark roast chicory-flavored
coffee with hot milk. “Pure” coffee
If you don’t like the
somewhat bitter taste
of chicory, just ask for
“pure” coffee; you’ll get
a tasty cup of dark or
medium roast coffee.
Dixie and Abita Amber, Red and white Espresso, extra-strong
local beers California wines coffee, is also available. Café espresso

172-173_EW_New_Orleans.indd 172 13/08/14 2:11 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
What to Drink template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.2)
Date 7th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm