New Orleans is known for its unparalleled drinking scene, and happy hour is the perfect time to imbibe. At Hummingbird Lounge, a gorgeous space located above 14 Parishes Jamaican Restaurant, enjoy Irie Hour Thursday through Saturday from 5 p.m.-midnight with $5 off all signature cocktails (like the house margarita and rum punch) and $5 off select food items (such as salmon sliders, fried cauliflower and fried jerk wings).
Every day from 4 -7 p.m. at the WXYZ Bar, located within Aloft New Orleans, enjoy $4 draft beers, $5 glasses of select wine, $6 well liquors and half off select menu items. On Wednesdays, enjoy half off of all wine, and, on Thursdays, take advantage of $4 draft beers all night long. There’s also live music every Wednesday through Saturday night.
At Seaworthy, the Oyster Happy Hour, 4-6 p.m. daily, includes a selection of oysters sourced from the Gulf to the East and West coasts (priced at $1.50-$3.75 per oyster) and $6 glasses of house wine.
During lunch service on Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., enjoy $1 martinis at Criollo within Hotel Monteleone. 8227 Oak St., 504-264-7457, 14parishes.com; 225 Baronne St., 504-581-9225, AloftNewOrleansDowntown.com; 630 Carondelet St., 504-930-3071, SeaworthyNola.com; 214 Royal St.,504- 681-4444, criollonola.com
Swifty Soirees
Virgin Hotels New Orleans is celebrating Taylor Swift’s upcoming Eras tour through an array of new offerings. Check out the Taylor Swift drag and burlesque brunch from Trixie Minx Productions at Commons Club Oct. 25-27, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a two-course prix fixe boozy brunch and a performance based on Swift’s albums. Show times are at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Elektra Cosmetics also will set up a glitter bar. Meanwhile, head bartender Heather Blanchard has created themed pre-concert cocktails available at The Pool Club like Shake It Off (Sazerac Rye, amaretto, pineapple, lemon and meringue) and Bad Blood with Casamigos jalapeño tequila, kumquat, lime and soda. There’s also the This is Our Era: Swifties Pre-Concert Party taking place all weekend long with DJ entertainment, photo opportunities, airbrush tattoos, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks with the New Orleans Girls Club upstairs at Dreamboat from 4-6 p.m. The Bead Shop will be on site offering a friendship-making bracelet bar. 550 Baronne St., 504-603-8000, virginhotels.com
Women in Wine
A number of talented women are pioneering the natural wine scene in New Orleans with a focus on education, sustainability, quality and innovation. For example, Really Really Nice Wines, owned by Miriam Matasar and her husband, offers a top-notch selection of natural wines, carefully curated to highlight small producers and sustainable practices. Meanwhile, Patron Saint Wine, founded by PUNCH editor Leslie Pariseau, combines a curated wine list (showcasing organic and biodynamic wines from around the world) with a cozy ambiance. And at Tell Me Bar, Uznea Bauer focuses on natural wines from small producers and unique varietals. 3500 Magazine St., 504-309-8744, reallyreallynicewines.com; 1152 Magazine St., Ste. 101, 504-321-7771, PatronSaintWine.com; 1235 St. Thomas St., thetellmebar.com
Louisiana Spirit
Sugarfield Spirits, a distillery, winery and cidery in Gonzales, offers an array of spirits that celebrate the terroir of Louisiana. Among the most popular spirits, the original Sugarfield Rum is an agricole-style rum produced from a blend of Louisiana cane sugar and molasses. The distillery also just released its Port Finished Single Barrel rum made with raw cane sugar and black strap molasses from Belle Rose, Louisiana. Expect flavors of dark cherries and plums, with a hint of vanilla, a touch of pepper and spiciness from the French oak. Also be sure to try the purple butterfly pea vodka, which is the official vodka of Louisiana State University Athletics. Available at Avenue Wine, 2025 St. Charles St., 504-522-3864
Meanwhile, local distillery Atelier Vie has expanded its line of absinthe expressions with Toulouse Blue, Absinthe Blau. Joining Toulouse Red, Absinthe Rouge; and Toulouse Green, Absinthe Verte; Toulouse Blue is inspired in part by Swiss blanche absinthe and has been 10 years in development. Toulouse Blue is fennel-forward and is made with distillery-grown wormwood. In addition to a light blue hue, expect a balanced flavor profile with subtle botanical notes. Available at Really Really Nice Wines, 3500 Magazine St., 504-309-8744, reallyreallynicewines.com
