New Orleans Cocktail History

America has a long history of cocktails (one that gets fuzzier the more of them you drink), but there's a special place in the heart of all drink aficionados for the city of New Orleans. Besides the fact that New Orleans never really allowed Prohibition to take effect, it also has remained a bastion for what many might call "serious" cocktails. As Abigail Deirdre Gullo of SoBou explains, "When the rest of the country fell into the dark ages of vodka sodas and cosmos, people were still drinking rye whiskey here."

In the video above, Gullo explains New Orleans' unique contributions to the world of cocktails. The city gave rise to the birth of one of America's great cocktails, the Sazerac, and is home to the world-famous Peychaud's Bitters, which were created in New Orleans in the early 19th century. To have a true taste of New Orleans beyond the Sazerac, Gullo suggests ordering a Ramos Gin Fizz, a twist on the classic Gin Fizz, as well as the Vieux Carre, which she describes as a "Creole version of the classic Manhattan."

To learn more check out the video or head down to New Orleans yourself and have Abigail shake you up a cocktail at SoBou.