Sazerac House
Sazerac House: Immerse Yourself in NOLA's Famous Cocktail
New Orleans has no shortage of cocktails representin' its spirit. But none so beloved as the Sazerac - those ancients declared it the official brew back in 2008! Mixing woody rye whiskey and herbaceous absinthe with a history stretching way back, the Sazerac deserves its own tribute.
That arrived last year when the Sazerac Company unveiled a $50 million interactive museum off Canal Street diving deep into this classic sipper's roots and production. Three floors filled with artifacts, exhibits and demos revealing secrets of how America's top bartenders craft killer Sazeracs.
Swig Samples & Catch Virtual Mixology Classes
And did we mention complimentary sampling at the Sazerac House? Age 21+ visitors can taste test rye and rum right off stills conjuring the cocktail's key components. Or witness virtual bartenders like famous Big Easy barman Chris Hannah teaching exactly how to stir up the city's quintessential drink with theatrics like igniting absinthe.
Best of all, the completely immersive experience is 100% free if you register online beforehand! So next time you're strolling the Crescent City, make sure to save an afternoon for getting happily spirited away at the Sazerac House sippin' on history.
The Foggy Story Behind a Cocktail Classic
The Sazerac's origin story has more twists than a lime garnish. And the museum covers 'em all - from exploring the blight plaguing Europe's wine grapes impacting 19th-century brandy supplies to Prohibition shutdowns nearly silencing the drink in the early 1900s.
But NOLA's unquenchable thirst and ingenuity kept their signature cocktail flowin' even when liquor vanished nationwide. Heck, while the rest of the booze world moved onto vodka and canned drinks, New Orleans bars never stopped serving Sazeracs using century-old recipes calling for Medicinal tinctures like peychaud’s bitters and edgy absinthe.
And with the craft cocktail craze restoring vintage preparation techniques lately, mixologists globally have fallen for this old-school cinnamon kiss of rye and botanicals once again. Turns out the Big Easy was ages ahead mixology-wise, thanks to legends like Chris Hannah keeping the fire lit!
Celebrating Enduring Big Easy Traditions
The museum also spotlights living legends and enduring rituals that still steer NOLA's modern bar scene. Patrons can glimpse original 19th-century bitters labels lining the walls near a neon sign rescued from famous bar Cure as a band jams live music nightly the same way premium drinking dens on Frenchman Street still do today.
Or pull up a mini table to watch costumed actors dramatizing when the first Sazerac cocktails got stirred while you sip one crafted using the original recipe. From artifacts of the past to traditions thriving currently, the Sazerac House bottles up the spirit and community still coursing through the city's quintessential cocktail.
So don't miss a chance to sip on history and city pride at the Sazerac House. Those lucky few sampling its namesake drink 25 years back and today all agree - ain't nothing more New Orleans than raising a glass of this absinthe-anointed, cognac-kissed rye potion built on late-night tales!
