New Orleans Cocktails for Mardi Gras

Originally published on Epicurious.com

Looking for a little Carnival tipple? Consider these cocktails

New Orleans is said to be the home of the first cocktail. During Carnival season, it's ground zero for boozers—alcohol is served only three times a day: morning, noon, and night. The following adult beverages were all invented in the Big Easy. Try one to add a touch of authenticity to your Mardi Gras party.

Sazerac Here's what we're talking about when we refer to "the first cocktail." In the early 1800s, pharmacist Antoine Peychaud invented a brand of bitters to soothe rotten stomachs. Then he invented a drink for the bitters. Voilà, cocktails.

Ramos Gin Fizz It's a gin drink that tastes like a bouquet, thanks to Henry Ramos and orange flower water.

Herbsainte Necessity being the mother of invention, when absinthe was outlawed in 1912, J.M. Legendre came up with his own wormwood-free version of the anise-flavored liqueur. Substitute it for any recipe that calls for Pernod. (Incidentally, it's also the source of that je ne sais quoi in Oysters Rockefeller).

Southern Comfort Southern Comfort's not just a brand of booze in New Orleans; it's a way of life. Try it on the rocks or in a Southern Comfort Champagne Cocktail.

Hurricane Post-Katrina, the only welcome storms are the ones in our heads. Watch out for this fruity, gale-force rum concoction—more than one, and you'll need to declare yourself a national disaster.