New Orleans Cocktail History Walking Tour in the French Quarter

Savor tasty cocktails in the French Quarter of New Orleans on a walking tour with an expert local guide. Visit hidden gems enjoyed by locals for centuries, learning from your fun and knowledgeable guide about the historic venues you see and legendary cocktails you sip. Discover the origins of the grasshopper, learn the truth about absinthe, and sample a Sazerac concocted from a 19th-century recipe. Each stop features a classic cocktail, mixed by renowned bartenders who add a signature twist. It's a perfect tour for cocktail and culture enthusiasts!

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: French Quarter, New Orleans, LA

Meet your guide upstairs at Tiki Tolteca, a hidden tiki-themed oasis, to start your tour. Your local guide presents a fun and fascinating introduction to New Orleans’ and the world's cocktail culture as you sip your first drink. The tour begins with a refreshing, rum-laced Mai Tai inspired by the English sailors working in the 1600's Indian spice trade. 

Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA

Next, turn the corner to visit SoBou, where you sample the official cocktail of New Orleans: the Sazerac, a drink that comes from a 19th-century recipe. Additionally you will be served another pre-Civil War libation known as the Brandy Crusta: a potent concoction of brandy, orange liqueur, fresh lemon juice and bitters.

Duration: 45 minutes

Pass By: Jackson Square, 615 Pere Antoine Alley, New Orleans, LA 70116-3234

En route to your third destination, pass through historic Jackson Square to discuss the sophistication of early 20th century bartending.

Stop At: Tujague's, 823 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116, USA

Then step into Tujague’s, the oldest continuously operating stand-up bar in the United States. Serving food and drink since 1856, Tujague’s invented your next drink: the Grasshopper Cocktail from 1919. Sip one of the sweet, velvety Grasshoppers, or possibly try the French 75 cocktail, another pre-Prohibition drink featuring brandy, champagne, lemon juice and homemade simple syrup.

Duration: 45 minutes

Pass By: St. Louis Cathedral, 615 Pere Antoine Aly, New Orleans, LA 70116-3291

Pass by one of America's oldest active Catholic churches en route to Pirate's Alley.

Stop At: Royal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

After soaking up the antique charm of Tujague's, pass by an absinthe bar where your guide explains the story of this legendary liquor.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Bourbon O, 717 Orleans Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116-3189

Then continue to your final destination of the tour: the luxurious Bourbon "O" Jazz Bar, located inside the Bourbon Orleans Hotel. Your beverage here is the little-known Roffignac highball cocktail. Made from a 19th-century recipe, the Bourbon "O" Bar makes their refreshing Roffignac with raspberry liqueur and brandy.

Expect to walk about one mile during your 3-hour tour in a friendly social atmosphere inspired by your entertaining guide. Four cocktails are included, one at each stop. Your tour ends at the Bourbon "O" Bar, which features nightly live jazz at 8pm as well as a limited food menu. Or you can move on to explore the lively nightlife of nearby Frenchmen Street on your own (or with your new friends!).

Duration: 35 minutes