It turns out New Orleans has been showing America how to drink for a long time, particularly when it comes to cocktails, and it still does.
There is history and many legends around specific drinks associated with this town. But there’s also a lived truth to this city's identity as the cocktail capital.
It resides in an appreciation for fine drinks, the priority given to time to savor them and the social places created here that elevate them, from luxurious lounges to everyday corner joints that take the craft seriously.
Whether we’re talking upscale classics like the French 75 at Arnaud’s Restaurant, where the bartenders wear tuxedos, or Pal’s Lounge, the neighborhood spot by Bayou St. John, where they might wear cut offs, there’s a pride and diligence in the drinks akin to cuisine at top restaurants.
In short, there’s a cocktail culture in New Orleans. Its history and evolution are part of the city’s landscape of taste.
All of this is framed anew each year around this time by Tales of the Cocktail. It’s an industry conference and international gathering of the tribes for people in the spirits and hospitality business.
It fills the city with events, happy hours, guest bartender stints, brand takeovers and such. It also brings a mid-summer boost of business in the hospitality sector, which by many accounts is needed more than ever this year.
While Tales of the Cocktail is largely geared to people in the industry, for aficionados, and the more casually cocktail curious out there, it’s also a cue appreciate the richness of New Orleans cocktail culture. People travel from around the world to experience it; and they’re wowed by what they find. As locals, we get to partake in it anytime, and help perpetuate it too.
A cocktail quest, an outing to one of the city’s fine purveyors, is an absorbing way to spend a hot New Orleans day. Pick a few to tour around and suddenly you’re not just after a drink; you're on a genuine cultural pursuit. Hey, we all have our ways of getting through the summer.
