You can’t think of New Orleans without thinking of daiquiris, sno-balls and, obviously, co*cktails. But getting your favorite drink served on the rocks used to be a luxury. In fact, just getting ice was a feat in and of itself. Thanks to some clever businessmen, a few creative bartenders and a lot of thankful customers, ice became a necessity and helped the Sazerac–and New Orleans–become what it is today.
The Ice Age Begins, So to Speak
How do you get ice in the sweltering summers of New Orleans? You get imaginative. At least, that’s what businessman Frederic Tudor did in the mid-1800s. The story goes that he had ice cream that was so good, he decided the rest of the world needed a taste, too. Or maybe he just wanted to make a lot of money. Either way, his methods of shipping and storage paved the way for ice to reach places like New Orleans like never before.
By the 1850s, Frederic Tudor was shipping 50,000 tons of ice all over the world, and New Orleans was getting its fair share of shipments. That’s why the city started investing heavily in local ice houses. Think of them as warehouse-sized storage sheds for ice that could store and ship ice throughout the rest of the city. Once New Orleans had access to more and more ice, it became less of a luxury. Now, it was just a matter of deciding what to do with it.
co*cktails on the Rocks
Orsamus Willard was a bartender in New York in the early 1800s. He was one of the first “celebrity” bartenders that used ice in more creative ways, making it more of a feature than an afterthought. Soon, it was commonplace for patrons to order their drinks on the rocks. But not everyone liked having ice in their drinks, especially when it came to a New Orleans favorite: the Sazerac co*cktail.
To prevent the feeling of ice hitting their teeth, patrons started drinking co*cktails from straws. But the Sazerac was best enjoyed straight up. So, bartenders started chilling the glass and straining out the ice. Over 150 years later, it’s still served the same way.
By the 20th century, the quality of ice dropped dramatically. But it was also a lot cheaper and accessible. People bought their own refrigerators and started making drinks in blenders instead of by hand. That got us some good daiquiris in New Orleans, but it hurt the artfully crafted co*cktail business.
The Art of Ice Returns
Now, we’re back to enjoying co*cktails the way they were meant to be enjoyed. Bartenders are using the older tools of the trade and cutting their own ice with mallets and ice saws to get perfect, crystal clear cubes. But you still won’t find a cube of ice in a Sazerac anywhere in New Orleans–just as it was meant to be.
Events
Friday, June 14, 2024
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Join us for an exciting evening of co*cktail exploration as we dive into the art of batched co*cktails, perfectly suited for summer gatherings. Local drinks Historian Elizabeth Pearce will lead this elevated experience. Participants will enjoy four iconic co*cktails as they discover the secrets behind balancing flavors, selecting quality ingredients, and mastering the art of batching co*cktails for entertaining. $45 per person. All guests must be 21 to participate. Guided Sazerac product tasting. Approximately 90 minutes. 45 people maximum capacity
Elevated Sazerac co*cktail Tasting
Sunday, June 23, 2024
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
June 23rd is named Sazerac co*cktail Day for a reason! Join us as we explore the evolution of New Orleans’ official co*cktail: The Sazerac! This is an elevated, boozier version of our daily tasting class which featuring Sazerac products: Cognac de Forge, Sazerac Rye Whiskey, Peychaud’s Bitters, and Herbsaint Liqueur. $45 per person. Approximately 75 minutes.
Sazerac co*cktail Day! House Tour
Sunday, June 23, 2024
11:00 am - 4:30 pm
The Sazerac House Tour will be transformed for this one-day-only experience! Join us in celebration on June 23rd, the day in 2008 when the Sazerac co*cktail was named the official co*cktail of New Orleans by the Louisiana State Legislature. Guests of the Sazerac House will experience an elevated museum experience which includes amplified tastings and storytelling of the spirits that make the Sazerac co*cktail so special! Peychaud’s Bitters and Peychaud’s Aperitivo Spritz Samples in Peychaud’s Apothecary High end Sazerac de Forge Cognac sampling Specialty Herbsaint co*cktail Sazerac Rye Whiskey sampling (our in-house distilled spirit!) The Perfect Sazerac co*cktail Guests must be 21 and over to enjoy the samples. Tickets are $10 per person. Guests under 21 or not wishing to drink may purchase a free ticket to enjoy the museum and storytelling.
Sazerac co*cktail Day! House Tour + Speakeasy Access
Sunday, June 23, 2024
11:00 am - 4:15 pm
This ticket type includes the full Sazerac co*cktail Day experience PLUS access to the beautiful Charente Speakeasy Tasting Room to relax and enjoy a full-sized Sazerac co*cktail featuring Cognac de Forge. The Sazerac House Tour will be transformed for this one-day-only experience! Join us in celebration on June 23rd, the day in 2008 when the Sazerac co*cktail was named the official co*cktail of New Orleans by the Louisiana State Legislature. Guests of the Sazerac House will experience an elevated museum experience which includes amplified tastings and storytelling of the spirits that make the Sazerac co*cktail so special! Peychaud’s Bitters and Peychaud’s Aperitivo Spritz Samples in Peychaud’s Apothecary High end Sazerac de Forge Cognac sampling Specialty Herbsaint co*cktail Sazerac Rye Whiskey sampling (our in-house distilled spirit!) The Perfect Sazerac co*cktail Guests must be 21 and over to enjoy the samples. Guests under 21, or those not wishing to drink, may purchase a free ticket to enjoy the museum and storytelling.
