Congratulations are in order for Jewel of the South, which was awarded a 2024 Spirited Award for Best U.S. Bar Team during Tales of the Cocktail. This year’s winners were recognized through the lens of the 2024 conference theme, Inspire. Judges chose the winners based on those who embrace growth through the collective sharing of ideas and energy. 1026 St. Louis St., 504-265-8816, jewelnola.com
Meanwhile, Wine Spectator has unveiled the winners of its 2024 Restaurant Awards—the world’s only program focused exclusively on restaurant wine service—assigned on three levels: the Award of Excellence; the Best of Award of Excellence; and the Grand Award. Locally, 27 restaurants were recognized. Of these, Brennan’s Restaurant, which has a collection of more than 14,000 bottles (with special attention to world renowned boutique producers, verticals and large formats) won a Grand Award for the fourth consecutive year. Ralph’s on the Park—which features wines primarily from the United States, Europe, South America and Australia—also was recognized for the first time as an Award of Excellence recipient. Briquette Restaurant also earned an Award of Excellence for the fourth year running. 417 Royal St., 504-525-9711, brennansneworleans.com; 900 City Park Ave., 504-488-1000, ralphsonthepark.com; 701 S. Peters St., 504-302-7496, briquette-nola.com
Brunch ’n Brews
Port Orleans Brewing Co. is now offering brunch on Sundays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. In addition to menu items from AvoTaco (like avocado toast, breakfast tacos, breakfast quesadillas and more), the brewery is offering seltzer mimosas (including pitchers) and Bloody Mary’s. Also be sure to swing by on Sept. 28 for National Drink Beer Day to try an array of craft beers. 4124 Tchoupitoulas St., 504-266-2332, portorleansbrewingco.com
Hooray for Happy Hour
Rosella in Mid-City offers a range of happening Happy Hour events. For example, Margarita Monday features spicy watermelon margaritas for $10 and regular margaritas for $8 from 4-7 p.m. And on Corn Dog Wednesdays (also from 4-7 p.m.), enjoy corndogs for $8 and a Rosella cocktail for $8. On Fridays, check out the Happy Meal Happy Hour (from 4-6 p.m.), featuring kids’ meals for $5 and carafes of wine for $16. 139 S. Cortez St., 504-766-6642, rosellamidcity.com
Zero-Proof Bevvys
Chef Justin Devillier and Bar Director Stephen Burgess at Justine have launched a new lineup of non-alcoholic beverages. For example, the Creamsicle—inspired by the flavors of Orange Cream Soda—features orange, Grenadine, pineapple, vanilla and soda. The La Verdita, the sister mocktail to Justine’s beloved Green Goddess, contains house-made Verdita (a mixture of pineapple, mint, cilantro and jalapeño) topped off with East Imperial Tonic Water. 225 Chartres St., 504-218-8533, justinenola.com
Late-Night Revelry
Bacchanal owners Joaquin Rodas and Adrian Mendez, along with Justin “Juice” LeClair, have opened NightBloom, a new late-night cocktail bar in the Bywater. The bar highlights many women-owned, BIPOC-owned and single-family liquors, plus a number of top-notch wines. Signature cocktails include the Miss Vanije (made with mezcal, tequila, cilantro, mint, jalapeño, pineapple, lime, agave and salt) and Underneath the Purple Rain (made with lavender-infused London Dry Gin, Chareau Aloe Liqueur, Suze and Chocchi Americano, served with a lemon twist). NightBloom also hosts popups ranging from food trucks, guest DJ sets, vinyl nights, bar takeovers and more. 3100 St. Claude Ave., 504-459-2169, nightbloombar.com, winespectator.com
Flowery Gin
Co-owners Chand Harlow, Rob Forster and Thomas Alexander of Wonderbird Spirits are producing the only rice-based gin in the Western Hemisphere. The grain-to-glass distillery generates its own base spirit using jasmine rice sourced from the Mississippi Delta. Additionally, the company’s Magnolia Experimental expression, No. 97, is the only magnolia gin in the world. Gathering flowers from late April through mid-May, Wonderbird Spirits vapor-distills the delicate white petals resulting in a gin with buttery, floral notes balanced with soft juniper and finished with a nutty sweetness from cinchona bark. Try it in a martini or a Negroni. Available at multiple bars and liquor stores, including Keife & Co., 801 Howard Ave., 504-523-7272, keifeandco.com