Recipe Spotlight on Local Libations: Cocktails with New Orleans Spirit

New Orleans cocktails are expressive, celebratory, and unapologetically flavorful—each one telling its own story.

The Bayou Bash is vibrant and fruit-forward, blending Southern Comfort, citrus juices, cherry notes, and a dramatic red wine float. It’s festive and instantly recognizable.

The Emerald Isle Martini leans cool and refined, pairing Hendrick’s gin with green crème de menthe and bitters for a smooth, herbal sip. Gone With The Wind offers elegance through simplicity, while the Mint Julep remains a Southern icon—mint, bourbon, crushed ice, and timeless charm.

For something playful, the Satsuma Creamsicle delivers a frozen indulgence of rum, vanilla ice cream, and fresh satsuma juice—a creamy citrus nod to New Orleans flair.

Together, these libations reflect the city’s love for celebration, craftsmanship, and flavor-forward tradition.

Bayou Bash

Ingredients

• 1¼ oz. Southern Comfort

• 1 oz. orange juice

• ¾ oz. pineapple juice

• ¼ oz. grenadine

• ¾ oz. cherry juice

• 1¼ oz. sweet and sour mix

• ¾ oz. red wine

Directions

Into a cocktail shaker with 1½ scoops of ice, pour the Southern Comfort, orange juice, pineapple juice, grenadine, cherry juice, and sweet and sour mix. Shake well and pour contents into a 12 oz. frosted Collins glass. Top with red wine and garnish with half orange slice and a cherry.

Emerald Isle Martini

Ingredients

• 2 oz. Hendricks Gin

• ½ oz. Green Crème de Menthe

• 3 dashes Angostura Bitters

Directions

Combine all ingredients, stir with ice and strain into a martini glass.

Gone With The Wind

Ingredients

• 1 oz. vodka

• 1 oz. Mandarin Napoleon

• Cracked ice

Directions

Chill well in cracked ice, strain, and serve up in a martini glass.

Mint Julep

Ingredients

• 6–8 mint leaves

• Crushed ice

• 2 oz. bourbon

• 2 tsp. sugar in ½ oz. water

• 1 mint sprig

Directions

In a glass, crush mint leaves with a spoon. Fill with crushed ice, then pour bourbon and simple syrup over ice. Garnish with mint sprig.

Satsuma Creamsicle

Ingredients

• 1 oz. Cruzan Estate Diamond Light Rum

• 2 oz. vanilla ice cream mix or vanilla ice cream

• 6 oz. shaved ice

• 1 oz. satsuma juice

• 1 drop orange food coloring

• 3 wedges satsuma, marinated in rum

Directions

Blend rum, ice cream mix or ice cream, and satsuma juice with shaved ice in blender. Pour into brandy snifter. Put drop of orange food coloring on top and swirl. Top with rum-soaked satsuma wedges.