The best Mardi Gras drinks for your Fat Tuesday celebration! Mardi Gras is all about reveling in decadence and debauchery. And just like in New Orleans, the drinks are always flowing! Grab a cocktail, and don’t forget the king cake!
In this post you’ll find New Orleans cocktails perfect for celebrating Mardi Gras. There’s New Orleans classics like the Sazerac and Hurricane, and drinks you might not have even known were invented in New Orleans, like the grasshopper! If you’re in need of food ideas to serve at your party, check out Mardi Gras Recipes.
The Classic Sazerac
This cognac and whiskey based cocktail is a classic staple in New Orleans Culture. Make the perfect homemade Sazerac cocktail for your Mardi Gras celebration.
The Hurricane is New Orleans’ most famous cocktail invented at Pat O’Brien’s bar in the French Quarter. It’s a favorite of party-goers celebrating Mardi Gras! It’s easy to make and a delicious drink filled with fruit juice and rum.
Get in the Mardi Gras spirit with this Hand Grenade Drink. With its trademark bright yellow-green hue, this New Orleans Hand Grenade is the perfect drink when you can’t make it to Bourbon Street!
This Bourbon Bloody Mary with Bacon is a flavor explosion- with deep savory notes and crispy bacon garnish, its sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Mardi gras-ing starts early, so this is the perfect breakfast cocktail!
Did you know New Orleans has drive through daiquiri shops? Enjoy this Strawberry Daiquiri with the sweetness of summer strawberries, the tang of lime juice, & the flavor of white rum or Bacardi.
The Vieux Carré is a classic cocktail from the 1930s. With a base of both rye and Cognac, this perfectly balanced drink is one of the best. “Vieux Carré” translates to “old square” in French, and is a reference to the French Quarter’s square shape.
This Empress Gin French 75 classic cocktail has color-changing abilities and is made from gin, sparkling wine, lemon juice, and simple syrup. It’s a pretty colored twist on the original.
A colorful twist on the classic hurricane cocktail. This bright blue hurricane drink is an easy Mardi Gras inspired drink. Easy to make in 5 minutes for a couple people or a large crowd.
This delicious and festive Grasshopper Cocktail with crème de menthe, crème de cacao, and vodka is perfect for any celebration. The grasshopper drink was invented in 1918 at Tujague’s restaurant in New Orleans.
This New Orleans brandy milk punch is a wonderful Mardi Gras cocktail. It all starts with a homemade vanilla bean simple syrup. This New Orleans milk punch is guaranteed to get your Mardi Gras party started on the right note!
Pimm’s Cup is a delightfully refreshing cocktail. This fruity English drink is similar to sangria. It became popular in New Orleans in the 1940s in the hot summer heat.
Lining up for Mardi Gras parades starts really early, so you’ll want something to wake you up and get the party started. An Irish coffee is the perfect breakfast cocktail!
The original Rum Runner recipe is a refreshing tiki cocktail that tastes like adult fruit punch. Tropical rum drinks are always popular in the New Orleans heat.
I’m the blogger, recipe developer, food photographer, and otherwise food obsessed gal behind Lauren From Scratch. I was born and raised in New Orleans and lived in South Louisiana most of my life. Growing up around Cajun country has instilled a love of food that runs deep in my bones. I am passionate about food and teaching you how to make mouth-watering Louisiana inspired dishes in your own kitchen!