What You Will Do
Let the good times roll as you discover the Big Easy’s vibrant drinking culture on the original cocktail walking tour of New Orleans. New Orleans has long been a muse with an unquenchable taste for revelry, muddling sophistication and fancy in equal parts. It’s no wonder the cocktail scene began in early 1850 to be exact. Drink in her rich history as you explore the French Quarter, where the hour is always happy. Try 3 different cocktails on your tour, one of them being the Sazerac, which was invented in New Orleans and is one of the city’s most iconic libations.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Itinerary
Meeting Point
Gray Line Lighthouse on the Steamboat NATCHEZ dock (Toulouse Street at the Mississippi River)
1
French Quarter
2 hours 30 minutes
Embark on your exploration of New Orleans’ cocktail culture from the Gray Line Lighthouse Ticket Office, right on the Mississippi River in the city’s French Quarter. Your group of like-minded 21-and-up revelers will travel the neighborhood’s historic streets, ducking in and out of watering holes and restaurants in buildings that still stand as beautiful examples of French and Spanish Colonial Architecture.
While it’s easy to get lost in the history of your surroundings, the real stars of the tour are the cocktails. Listen in as your guides reveal the stories behind each inventive libation and the characters that brought them to life. Learn the story of the Sazerac, which dates back to 1850.
2
The Court of Two Sisters
Enter the Court of Two Sisters’ Carriageway Bar through the charm gates, wrought in Spain and blessed by Queen Isabella. Now a restaurant world-famous for its jazz brunch and courtyard canopied by a 130-year-old wisteria vine, the block has maintained a lively history since 1726.
3
St. Louis Cathedral
At the intersection of two cobblestone alleys in the shadows of the St. Louis Cathedral, is a
legendary pirate hangout. There you’ll meet the “green fairy” known as Absinthe, the mystical herbal elixir that induced intoxicating creativity in many authors, artists, poets, and musicians.
4
Peychaud's
Relax in the former residence of Antoine Peychaud, the Creole apothecary who prescribed and dispensed his patented herbal Peychaud’s Bitters, which would later become the key ingredient in the Sazerac, America’s first cocktail and the official cocktail of New Orleans.
5
Fritzel's European Jazz Bar
There’s nothing like soul-stirring jazz to raise your spirits. Your tour ends on a high note at Fritzel's, not your typical dive bar. This jazz pub features the who’s who of New Orleans jazz, drawing jazz aficionados from around the world. You're welcome to stay for the show, then walk to dinner at one of many fine French Quarter restaurants nearby.
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