NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — There are many cocktails associated with New Orleans, and some of them, such as the Sazarac, were created here. Cocktail culture fills a big chapter of New Orleans’ history. At New Orleans Drink Lab, you can learn about the drinks, have some fun and capture some skills to take home with you.
WGNO’s Stephanie Oswald got a mini-lesson and learned a lot about making a Sazarac, a French 75 and a Hurricane. The fun begins when you sign up; making your way to the classroom is a mysterious journey and you’ll need a secret code, just as they did back in the days of prohibition.
The motto at the Drink Lab is: make it, muddle it, master it!
Co-owner Camille Whitworth says, “We take you through the history, the culture and the tradition of classic New Orleans cocktails and then you make them. There are so many amazing things that people don’t know about cocktails.”
Groups normally have at least six people and the lesson lasts for a couple of hours. There are lots of different class options to choose from and you can check them all out on the Drink Lab website. But even in this mini-version of the full lesson, Oswald earned some bartending bragging rights.
One sweet bartending tip: Try using powdered sugar instead of simple syrup.
For 14 years, the setting has entertained fun-seekers of all ages.
“We want to take you back to an era, and that era is 1897 to 1917. Those years are when a lot of those cocktails were invented, right here in the city of New Orleans. This is good for date night, this is good for girls’ trip, this is good for bachelor parties, bachelorette parties, corporate team building events,” says Whitworth.
You must be 21 or older to join in on the fun, but you don’t have to get tipsy. There are non-alcoholic options for those who prefer mocktail mixology.
The most important souvenirs you’ll take home are your new-found skills, which are sure to impress, and an appreciation for the cocktail’s place in Louisiana history.
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