Classic Mardi Gras Cocktails

Are you ready to let the good times roll? PlumpJack Wine & Spirits has put together a list of their favorite classic New Orleans cocktails, from spirit-forward to light and celebratory – perfect for celebrating Fat Tuesday all day long!

Vieux Carré

• 1 oz Rye

• 1 oz Cognac

• 1 oz Sweet Vermouth

• 1/4 oz Bénédictine

• 2 dashes Peychaud's bitters

• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters

• Garnish lemon peel

Directions: Pour all ingredients into mixing glass, add ice and stir until chilled. Strain and pour over a chilled rocks glass and garnish with expressed lemon peel.

Sazerac

• 1/2 oz Simple Syrup

• 2 or 3 dashes Peychaud's Bitters

• 2 oz Rye Whiskey (such as Sazerac Rye)

• 1 tsp Absinthe

• Lemon peel

Directions: Pour absinthe into a rocks glass; swirl and coast the glass, then pour out absinthe. In a mixing glass, add the rest of the ingredients, add ice and stir until chilled. Strain and pour into the chilled rocks glass, then garnish with expressed lemon peel.

French 75

• 2 oz Gin

• 1/2 oz Freshly squeezed lemon juice

• 1/4 oz Simple syrup 

• Top with sparkling wine(preferably dry Champagne)

• Long, thin lemon spiral (garnish)

Directions: Pour all ingredients except sparkling wine into shaker, add ice and shake. Fine strain over flute glass and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with long lemon peel. 

Hurricane

• 1 oz Light Rum

• 1 oz Dark Rum

• 1 tbsp Passion Fruit Syrup

• Juice of 1/2 lime

• 1 tsp Superfine sugar (or to taste)

• Ice cubes

• Orange wheel

• Brandied cherry

Directions: Pour all ingredients into shaker, add ice and shake. Fine strain into hurricane glass filled with crushed iced. Garnish with orange wheel and brandied cherry.

Brandy Milk Punch

• 2 oz Brandy

• 1 1/2 oz Heavy Cream (or substitute almond milk)

• 1 oz Simple Syrup

• 1 tsp Vanilla extract

• Grated nutmeg to taste

Directions: Combine brandy, cream, simple syrup, and vanilla extract in a cocktail shaker; fill shaker with ice. Shake until outside of shaker is frosty, about 30 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish with nutmeg. 

Ramos Gin Fizz

• 2 oz Gin

• 1 oz Heavy Cream

• 1 Egg white

• 1/2 oz Lemon juice

• 1/2 oz Simple syrup 

• 2-3 drops orange flower water

• Club soda

Directions: Pour gin, lime juice, lemon juice, and simple syrup into shaker. Add ice, shake until tins are chilled, then strain drink back into shaker and dump excess ice. Pour egg white and heavy cream – you could use the spring from a hawthorne strainer for help. Shake vigorously for 3-5 minutes and strain into a collins glass. Float soda on top and watch the foam rise. Finally, add 3 dashes of orange flower water at the top.