people argue there's no better place to grab a cocktail than New Orleans and we
agree Cheers not only does it have an amazing
cocktail scene it is also filled with culture delicious
food and wonderful music i'm liz williams and i'm the founder of the
southern food and beverage museum in new orleans drinking was always something
that was a part of the culture from the time that the French came here in 1718
we have been drinking no one actually knows who invented the cocktail but New
Orleans has a very rich cocktail history business was done over alcohol in those
days and because we were doing so much business as a very big port city we were
encouraging drinking and we still probably reflect that attitude today i'm
caroline rosen i'm the executive director of the tales of the cocktail
foundation we're most known for the largest cocktail conference in the world
and what's beautiful about New Orleans it's so much more than the chaos of
Bourbon Street we've played an integral part in so many
different cocktails being created and we continue that progression people here
enjoy a great day
so good to see it's good to see listen are so excited to show you a few of our
favorite spots at New Orleanians like to drink we want to share a little bit of
our home with you today and I'm really excited to get this tour going it's
gonna be a fun day great follows the perfect way to start
Cheers
first quarter beautiful day and we're headed for one of the most refreshing
drinks one of my most favorite spots here we go hey dude whoa so there are
two different ways to take your friend 75 and I bet you could guess which way
we would like to take ours well you're in the front 75 bar you're in New
Orleans so with cognac of course perfect thank you the story would go that the
French soldiers had the champagne the Americans wanted to add some more kick
to the rink and the closest thing they had was age come yet the British
soldiers would forge in so a lot of bars assume that gin isn't the way to drink
75 but being in New Orleans for a French city it's a French drink we use French
Champagne so French cognac just seems right thank
you enjoy Cheers I think of it as an adult
lemonade
we made it we're finally here at the lovely Napoleon house what's our
favorite drink here a Pimm's Cup very refreshing
hits the spot how are you today good to see you you may be welcome welcome
why is it called a Napoleon house so the Napoleon house is historically actually
the jerrod house this building was originally the residence of the first
mayor of the city of New Orleans Nicholas Jerrod if rain rumors started
flying around the city that this elegant apartment was being fitted for the
Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and we still call it the Napoleon house two hundred
years later you're known for your muffuletta here right so do you think
maybe we could try one of those absolutely you kid that'd be be remiss
if you did the buffalo sandwich was invented in New Orleans during the early
1900 we start with these fresh baked Italian bread we layer it with Swiss
cheese and provolone and different cured meats and top it with that great unique
olive salad it's crispy on the outside and warm on the inside Wow the ladies
enjoy it looks delicious Cheers Bon Appetit now that is amazing
we're on our way to the new jewel of the South in the French Quarter and one of
the most celebrated bartenders in New Orleans Chris Hanna is here today hey
how are you how are you guys good to see you good to see you we haven't had a
Sazerac yet today and I think we need one what makes the Sazerac cocktails
special you know it's our version of the old fashioned arpeggio bitters from New
Orleans rye whiskey or cognac we rinse the glass with herb Sansa's a nice a
nice note we want them to be able to have the same drink that he might have
had 50 30 and a hundred years ago so you know this is the official cocktail of
New Orleans I mean how many cities have an official cocktail I really don't know
but I think it's pretty nice that we have one we live in the greatest city in
the world I would agree
we're at Canaan table in the French Quarter which is one of the most unique
spots I really feel transported they have a
pretty killer beverage and food program compared to that's true I love the way
their bar program is respectful of the past and looking forward at the same
time this drink was invented in New Orleans and this is kind of the mother
of that is much more modern like a cocktail here's our cocktail de marisco
with our gulf shrimp very similar I'm really excited about the food because we
have really been moving around I'm almost to my 10,000 steps today people
have said there's something about the food in that place it's different from
anyplace else in America Street if you don't experience the food while you're
here and you've really missed something
looks like we find ourselves in your neighborhood now this is my neighborhood
because I am we're on Frenchmen Street and we're in the Faubourg Marigny a lot
of us like to call it the locals Bourbon Street but I loved about this
neighborhood as the music right right the thing I like about it is being able
to go into one place and listen to a music for a little while across the
street go listen to music someplace else so we're actually gonna go to one of our
favorite spots after this a little bit off the beaten path but bacchanal really
good food good music and good drinks what more could we ask for
there's the nothing else
no trip to New Orleans is complete without some fantastic music and
bacchanal is the place for that with live music every single night of the
week
thanks so much for joining us on our cocktail tour throughout the whole city
of New Orleans I hope that if you're looking for a city with great food music
and especially cocktails you'll come visit us see y'all soon