New & Notable: The Sazerac House
If you’ve been to New Orleans, you know it’s impossible to walk through the French Quarter without stumbling across countless bars. Cocktails are served on every corner; some incredible [link to jewel], others, meh… NOLA’s major pull has always been jazz, food and of liquor. In addition to highly entertaining mixology workshops, the city just got a new destination, the stunning Sazerac House. Three of the building’s six floors are dedicated to an interactive, highly entertaining museum catering to the history of cocktails, featuring Sazerac Company’s extensive portfolio of Sazerac Rye, Herbsaint, Peychaud’s Bitters, Jung and Wulff Rums, to name just a few.
The ground floor of the museum houses a custom-built, 500-gallon Sazerac Rye Whiskey still, over two floors tall, which can also be seen from the outside of the building. There’s of course a beautiful retail shop right after the entrance to the museum, for liquor and cocktail wares.
The second floor has the fabled virtual bartenders–cute–but leaving their clientele a bit dry ; ) It’s a fun gimmick. Aside offering to take a selfie with you, they’ll teach you how to make their favorite cocktail. You’ll also find a rum exhibit here, and learn more about Sazerac’s liquors and bitters through other playful, interactive presentations.
On the third floor, you can watch the production and bottling of the beautiful Peychaud’s Bitters and learn about the role they play in the crafting of cocktails. Part of the upstairs also takes you on a journey through historic and colorful New Orleans, around turn of the 20th century.
The Sazerac House is located on the edge of the historic French Quarter at 101 Magazine St. on the corner of Canal and Magazine.
The museum is free, but please note that reservations are highly recommended.
