How
to put a king cake cocktail into words? Cult favorite dessert meets alcoholic
beverage, and hijinks ensue. Sugar-high meets boozy buzz, soundtrack by Trent
Reznor and Atticus Ross. Words can't contain it. This year, cocktails of all
kinds—from daiquiris to bourbon milk punches to martinis—are putting on their
Mardi Gras garb and passing themselves off as the mischievous sibling of king
cakes. Here are five places that are serving standout recipes for the season.
Gris-Gris
Gris-Gris opened in August 2018. Ever since
then, they've been racking up Restaurant of the Year titles all over the place.
It's no wonder why. Whether you dine at their Magazine Street location for
brunch, lunch, or dinner, they'll have something you'll love (even if you're
sticking to Ochsner Health System's Eat Fit NOLA plan). In the drinks
department are king cake daiquiris. Sip on a seasonal spin of the favorite
frozen drink, available until Mardi Gras Day. Made with Deep Eddy Vodka,
Evangeline Praline Liquor, dairy-free vanilla soft serve, cinnamon, and
seasonal spices, the cocktail is available in 16-ounce single servings ($9) and
half-gallon servings for die-hard fans ($30). Because this is the kind of
seasonal drink that generates an extreme fandom.
Reginelli's
The
seasonal menus at Reginelli's are always a sight for
sore eyes. This year, for Mardi Gras, Reggie's has a Bayou Eggplant (the most
intriguing nightshade) dish that sounds de-light-ful and a king cake cocktail
that sounds downright dangerous. "This cocktail will make you want to say
'Laissez les bon temps rouler!" says the menu. We take that seriously. How
could we not? The drink is composed of Fireball, Rumchata, vanilla soy milk,
and cinnamon, topped off with whipped cream and cinnamon crumbles ($9).
Bourbon House
Dickie
Brennan's Bourbon House is staying true to its
roots while also getting a little wild for the season with their king cake bevvy. Though lesser known than the Sazerac, Hurricane, or even Hand Grenade,
the bourbon milk punch is a classic New Orleans drink. The ingenious
mixologists at Bourbon House took the underrated cocktail and dressed it up for
Mardi Gras. A combination of homemade vanilla ice cream, cinnamon, orange,
orgeat syrup, and local NOLA rum. Served frozen, it's the ideal desserty drink
to enjoy after a meal.
New Orleans Original Daiquiris
Louisiana
is drive-thru daiquiris. It's late nights stumbling into storefronts where the
walls are lined with levers that lead to flavors like Crawgator and Electric
Lemonade. It's those places where the ceilings are festooned with LED lights
shaped like icicles or flames (or both) and the music is heard loud and clear
from outside. As New Orleans Original
Daiquiris legend has it, the phenomenon wouldn't exist if
David Briggs Jr. hadn't had the idea to open up a daiquiri empire in 1983. Of
course, it wasn't an empire back then. It was a shop in Hammond. And now, look
at them. They're offering you a Mardi Gras Mash prepared with bourbon, triple
sec, and tropical fruit punch, AND a king cake daiq with king cake vodka.
"Tastes like a cinnamon roll," says the staff, in case you ever had a doubt.
Velvet Cactus
Just
by name, you know the Velvet Cactus
is gonna be the funky Mexican restaurant of your technicolor dreams. Their food
is as delicious as their vibe. If you can't stop admiring the art on their
walls, just know that it's all by local artists and available for sale. For the
season, they're offering up a king cake martini made with king cake vodka,
sweet amaretto, and a touch of half and half, dusted with Mardi Gras magic
(gold, green, and purple sugar crystals, but also magic).
