Carnival Cocktails
The Virgin Hotel is hosting a variety of boozy Carnival events. Friday, Feb. 28, before Hermes, d’Etat and Morpheus parades, the Pool Club presents Beads and Bubbly. Admission is free and open to the public with live DJ entertainment. Specialty Mardi Gras cocktails, Champagne cocktails and bubbly are all available for purchase. Sunday, Feb. 23, during the Barkus parade, the Funny Library coffee shop will offer “pup cups” with the purchase of a coffee. Monday, March 3, guests can join local burlesque bombshell Trixie Minx at the Commons Club for the Lundi Gras Drag and Burlesque Brunch. 550 Baronne St., 504-603-8000, virginhotels.com/new-orleans.
Slow Down
The Will and the Way Bar Manager Jessye Calkin loves that her bar is “a little oasis for the masses” during Mardi Gras. This season’s menu includes Lover Boy Dennis with Cheramie Gold Rum, Cocchi Rosa, falernum, hibiscus and lime. The Wonderbird Barrel Select Martinez is named for Wonderbird Barrel Select gin distilled in Laurel, Mississippi. The bar’s hand-picked barrel of gin was aged for 205 days in a Laird’s apple brandy barrel. Punt e Mes vermouth and Maraska maraschino round out this classic. 719 Toulouse St., 504-354-1139, thewillandtheway.com.
Bellini Buddies
Commander’s Palace Le Petit Bleu Cafe offers an upscale swap for the ubiquitous parade route frozen daiquiri. Their Frozen Peach Bellini, featuring real peach purée and Prosecco, is one of the cafe’s most popular menu items, especially Monday through Friday, 5-7 p.m. with the “Bellini Buddies” deal — buy a Bellini for your buddy and get one free. 1403 Washington Ave., 504-207-1343, lepetitbleucafe.com.
Classic Concoctions
Arnaud’s French 75 bar offers elegance amid the Carnival madness. Head bartender Christoph Dornemann’s Carnival menu always features Mardi Gras themed cocktails. The Empress, a Last Word/Gimlet variation includes a housemade Chartreuse/St Germain/honeydew cordial, mint, lime and rose flower water. The Carnival Colada is a not-too-sweet King Cake-inspired colada, with butterfly pea infused cachaça and Rhum JM agricole, housemade coconut cream, cinnamon, dry curacao, orange and lime juices. 813 Bienville St., 504-523-5433, arnaudsrestaurant.com/bars/french-75.
Love is in the Air
It’s easy to forget that Valentine’s Day falls amid the Carnival bustle. Accordingly, the Peacock Room at the Kimpton Hotel Fontenot has two amorously inspired libations. The Cara Mia is a nod to a Carajillo, a classic Spanish cocktail made with coffee and Licor 43. Inspired by the love between Gomez and Morticia Adams, this cocktail brings Latin culture to the forefront with traditional Mexican flavors, El Salvadorian rum, and coffee sourced from Honduras and Colombia. The Patron Saint includes Patron reposado tequila, house made kumquat aperitif, Amaro Nonino, lemon and, of course, glitter! ‘Tis the season! 504 Tchoupitoulas St., 504-571-1818, peacockroomnola.com.
Raise a Glass
Carnival revelers looking for a well-crafted classic New Orleans cocktail can find it at Peychaud’s. Beverage Director Alexandra Anderson’s hurricane uses a traditional fassionola syrup added to strawberry infused Cheramie Rum Blanc, passion fruit and hibiscus, which gives the cocktail its traditional red coloring. Traditionalists will enjoy the Ojen Frappé, the official cocktail of the Krewe of Rex and a favorite of New Orleanians since the late 1800s. 727 Toulouse St., 504-884-4783, thecelestinenola.com/peychauds.
Jazz it Up
If you want to spruce up your drinks along the parade route, pop into the Pontchartrain Hotel. The Bayou Bar is pouring Midnight Blues, inspired by the jazz played there every Tuesday through Saturday night. It features Johnnie Walker Black Label, sweet vermouth, Benedictine, Peychauds and Angostura bitters. Up in the Hot Tin Bar, they have a Pimm’s Cup riff with Pimms, lemon juice, crème de cassis and cucumber juice.
2031 St Charles Ave., (504) 323-1400, thepontchartrainhotel.com.
Cup of Joe
If you’re feeling a little bleary from late night parade watching, French Truck Coffee’s Mardi Gras blend can perk you up. Big Chief, a blend of coffees from El Salvador, Ethiopia, and Brazil has notes of toffee, plum, orange liqueur and dark chocolate. And, of course, it pairs perfectly with King Cake!
