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18 Traditional (& Not-So-Traditional!) New Orleans Cocktails To Make During Mardi Gras

The bon temps are truly about to rouler, if you catch our drift...

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strawberry daiquiri in a glass with a beach umbrella
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Have you heard the Mardi Gras saying, "Laissez les bon temps rouler"? Sure, the Cajun-French phrase *technically* translates to "Let the good times roll," but we're pretty sure it really means: "Let's mix up some amazing Mardi Gras cocktails!" (Trust us, we're fluent. 😆) Either way, don't worry if you can't make it to NOLA this year for the festivities, we've got 18 classic Mardi Gras cocktail recipes that are as easy to mix up as they are to drink. Paired with king cake, beignets, and a Mardi Gras-themed meal (jambalaya and gumbo, mmm), these'll transport you straight to Bourbon Street.

It should come as no surprise that New Orleans is the birthplace of some of our favorite classic cocktails, and we're not just talking Hurricanes either. You might be familiar with our favorite NOLA cocktail of note, the Sazerac, but if you aren't, you'll definitely want to get acquainted with our delightfully bitter-sweet cherry Sazerac ASAP. We also love an effortlessly fancy French 75, rosemary gin Fizz, and Prosecco mint julep. Each of those is a far-cry from the "Hand Grenade" cocktails you'll no doubt see all over the French Quarter. 😂

Having a daiquiri in hand on Mardi Gras is kind of a non-negotiable, as far as we're concerned. And we've got more than a few tricks on how to get the most delightfully slushy blended drink possible. We love using a mix of fresh and frozen strawberries to keep our frozen strawberry daiquiri ultra-smooth, and we go all frozen for our beyond-refreshing frozen watermelon daiquiri. Get ready, your blender is about to get a lot of mileage!

For more Mardi Gras party ideas, check out all our favorite Mardi Gras food recipes, including all the best Mardi Gras appetizers to accompany all those cocktails.

1

Bourbon Milk Punch

bourbon milk punch delishcom

A brunch staple in New Orleans thanks to Benjamin Franklin(!). Be warned: This boozy milkshake packs a serious punch. Mixed with bourbon and honey, it's like a Southern summer dream, and we can't get enough. Try out our red wine milkshakes next! We have a feeling you'll really like them.

Get the Bourbon Milk Punch recipe.

2

Hurricane

hurricane cocktail with cherry and orange wedge

One sip of this boozy, fruity drink and you’ll be transported straight to Bourbon Street. With dark and light rum, sweet fruit juices and bright citrus flavor, it’s no wonder this drink has remained a classic rum cocktail since the 1940s. Want to know more? Click below to find out more of its fascinating history.

Get the Hurricane recipe.

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3

Strawberry Daiquiri

strawberry daiquiri in a glass with a beach umbrella
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If you've ever been to New Orleans, you know that (drive-thru) daiquiris and Mardi Gras go hand in hand. Here, the mix of fresh and frozen strawberries is the trick for the smoothest, frostiest daiquiri. If you love this, you gotta try our strawberry frosé next!

Get the Strawberry Daiquiri recipe.

4

Pimm's Cup

pimms cocktail with cucumber, orange, lemon and strawberry slices garnished with mint and topped with ginger ale
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Few beverages capture the feeling of summer like a Pimm’s Cup. This iconic British cocktail is bright, refreshing, and filled to the brim with fruit. Likely brought to New Orleans by way of a British expat who knew just what drink could cool you off on a swelteringly swampy day, it's also become a New Orleans classic.

Get the Pimm's Cup recipe.

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5

French 75

french 75 in a flute garnished with a lemon twist
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: JUSTIN SULLIVAN

The French 75 is among the fanciest of cocktails and a New Orleans staple. Champagne is what makes this drink distinctively French (and totally worth the splurge), but a more affordable sparkling wine such as Prosecco or Cava are both sound options too.

Get the French 75 recipe.

6

Cherry Sazerac

cherry sazerac
Emily Hlavac Green

New Orleans made the Sazerac famous, and it's THE ultimate classic cocktail for Mardi Gras. We added a little maraschino juice to this whiskey and cognac cocktail to give it a little fruity edge. It's bittersweet!

Get the Cherry Sazerac recipe.

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7

Spicy Grapefruit Sidecar

spicy grapefruit sidecar
Emily Hlavac Green

If the idea of sipping cognac kinda scares you, fear not: This twist on a classic sidecar—featuring grapefruit juice and triple sec (which you’re familiar with for making margaritas go down so easy) and a sweet-and-spicy rim—is anything but harsh.

Get the Spicy Grapefruit Sidecar recipe.

8

Rum Runner

rum runner
ANDREW BUI

The name of this classic tropical cocktail originates from the Prohibition-era, when bootleggers would, quite literally, "run" liquor across state lines to speakeasies. True to its name, this tiki drink has not one but two types of rum in it, and is balanced by the addition of fruity liqueurs and fresh juice.

Get the Rum Runner recipe.

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9

Classic Mint Julep

mint julep recipe

Mint juleps are often only brought up around the time of the Kentucky Derby, and we think that’s a crying (neighing?) shame! Not only does the classic frosty cup and minty flavor provide a cooling freshness on a hot day, it's only 3 ingredients, and the prep couldn’t be simpler.

Get the Classic Mint Julep recipe.

10

Rosemary Gin Fizz

rosemary gin fizz
PARKER FEIERBACH

This gin fizz gets a major flavor boost from rosemary simple syrup. This recipe will make far more syrup than you'll need for 2 drinks, but kept in an airtight container, it'll last 1 to 2 weeks! Use it to make more fizzes, or add it to other drinks that need sweetening, like homemade lemonade or iced tea.

Get the Rosemary Gin Fizz recipe.

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11

Baileys Coffee Slushies

baileys coffee slushies

A frozen Irish coffee is not only an amazing hangover-salve you can get at many NOLA watering holes, but it's also a delicious way to cool off. Pro tip: This super-boozy shake uses cold brew ice cubes, so it won't get diluted no matter how long it takes you to get to the bottom of the glass!

Get the Baileys Coffee Slushies recipe.

12

Sidecar

sidecar
Erik Bernstein

This classic cocktail likely evolved from a similar drink called the Brandy Crusta, which was invented in New Orleans in the 1800s. The sidecar strips that drink down (but keeps its fun sugared rim!), and is easy to customize—feeling like it's too sour? Bump up the sweetness with a little more triple sec. Too sweet? Add a touch more lemon juice.

Get the Sidecar recipe.

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13

Zombie Cocktail Recipe

drink, alcoholic beverage, bay breeze, non alcoholic beverage, rum swizzle, mai tai, distilled beverage, cocktail, classic cocktail, sour,

This tiki drink is peak New Orleans—and with multiple rums inside, it'll get you prettyyy tipsy. Legend says that the first person who tried this strong cocktail felt like a zombie for days afterward. But after we drink a Zombie? We mostly want to start a parade ASAP.

Get the Zombie Cocktail recipe.

14

King Cake Shots

mardi gras shots

Okay, so these king cake-inspired shots aren't entirely traditional, but you gotta admit they're pretty fun! A mix of RumChata and Fireball guarantees these are shots worthy of royalty. Try hiding a baby in the bottom of one, just like their inspiration, then warn everyone these are sippers, not shooters.

Get the King Cake Shots recipe.

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15

Prosecco Mint Julep

prosecco mint juleps in highball glasses with fresh mint
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

This festive sparkling drink is perfect for a low-key cocktail hour. A sort of lightened-up mint julep, the addition of a dry sparkling wine provides a pleasant brightness and effervescence that plays well with the rich, caramelized tones of bourbon whiskey.

Get the Prosecco Mint Julep recipe.

16

Frozen Pimm's Cup

frozen pimm's cup

You don’t have to be in the seats at Wimbledon or in the French Quarter to sip on a Pimm’s Cup—especially when you turn it into a slushie. The less-proper icy version blends up citrus, cucumber, and a bunch of fresh ginger for some legit zing.

Get the Frozen Pimm's Cup recipe.

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17

Drunk Grasshopper

drunk grasshoppers vertical
austin kearns

Grasshoppers have been served at Tujague's in the French Quarter since 1919—and they're still super-good over a hundred years later. Named after their green-ish hue (from crème de menthe), grasshoppers are sweet, rich, and perfectly minty. Topped with a little whipped cream and some chocolate shavings, these are irresistable.

Get the Drunk Grasshopper recipe.

18

Frozen Watermelon Daiquiris

watermelon daiquiri

Down in NOLA, daiquiris can be found EVERYWHERE—at the drive-thru, at bars, in restaurants...For re-creating the vibe at home, we suggest going with this frozen watermelon version that makes a perfect last-minute party cocktail. This low-effort cocktail comes together with a secret weapon: frozen watermelon cubes.

Get the Frozen Watermelon Daiquiri recipe.

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