Sippin' Sazeracs

When I was in New Orleans earlier this year, I had my very first Sazerac, and I was surprisingly thrilled with the taste. Of course, the fact that I tried one at The Sazerac Bar in the historic Roosevelt Hotel could have had something to do with it -- these folks know a thing or two about mixology. After all, this is where the bar's namesake drink (and some say, America's first cocktail) was invented way back in the late 1800s.

Here's how to make one:
Sazerac
2 oz. rye whiskey
3 dashes Peychaud's bitters
1 splash Herbsaint (a New Orleans-made absinthe substitute)

Evenly coat the inside of a chilled old-fashioned glass with Herbsaint. Shake rye and bitters with cracked ice. Strain into prepared glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Want to learn more? Check out this video from CHOW.com.

Bruning's Bar

It's no surprise that New Orleans loves it cocktails (sazeracs, hurricanes and hand grenades, to name a few), but it also is deeply attached to its history - so much so that when Hurricane Katrina demolished the city's third oldest restaurant, Bruning's, a group of men braved the high waters of Lake Pontchartrain to save its bar. Here she sits at the Museum of the American Cocktail awaiting restorations.

More from the Museum

Check out these super-cool vintage cocktail tools and bottles on view at the Museum of the American Cocktail in New Orleans.
Strainers and jiggersCitrus juicersCocktail shakerHuge ice tongsIngredients for the Sazerac and Ramos Gin FizzUmmm....is that really old bottle of Veuve? Very cool to see, but in my opinion, no Veuve should be left behind.So pretty - I want these for my house!

Cocktails & Saints

This past week I got the opportunity to visit the birthplace of all cocktails: New Orleans. I could barely contain how excited I was. I mean, for a cocktail blogger, the Big Easy is Mecca. My first stop? The Museum of the American Cocktail. Though I was initially surprised at how small the museum was -- just one room inside the Southern Food & Beverage Museum -- there was no shortage of awesome artifacts to see. Take a look:

LOVE THIS ALBUM COVER! Very Down with Love
Wouldn't you love to sip a Mai Tai from one of these bad boys?
Absinthe, anyone?