With the world dealing with a pandemic, the Sazerac House is
attempting to ease stress—New Orleans-style.
The Sazerac House is offering complimentary
Virtual Cocktail Workshops now until the beginning of June with the ability to
pick up all cocktail kits from the Sazerac House. Classes are directed by the
Sazerac House's leading bartenders Rhiannon Enlil and Matt Ray.
"The classes have been exceeding
our expectations," Miguel Solorzano, general manager of the Sazerac House,
said. "Our goal was to recreate one of our in-person tastings from the Sazerac
House for an online audience, and we are so excited that, through some
beautiful cocktail kits and great instruction from our experienced team leaders
Rhiannon Enlil and Matt Ray, we have been able to do that. We are thrilled to
see viewers from around the world and to be able to engage with them via WebEx
and Facebook Live."
The virtual workshop is a fun
way to learn how to make your favorite New Orleans classics and to learn the
history behind the spirits. The class begins with either bartender going over
the supplies needed to successfully make your cocktail. For the Classic
Daiquiri workshop, Ray made sure that participants had their ingredients and
tools ready and even suggested substitutes for each, if viewers lacked the
exact supplies.
The class itself was inviting
and laid-back, allowing all parties to have fun while mixing together their
dinks. Ray told listeners about himself and how he ended up being a head
bartender at the Sazerac House. This personal touch was a great way to make the
workshop more inviting and almost had viewers believing we were right there
with him, making the simple yet delicious daiquiris.
After teaching us how to become
personal mixologists, Ray sat back and sipped on his own daquiri, while taking
us though a little history lesson on the adored cocktail. Learning the
historical tale of the daquiri gave listeners a greater appreciation for the
drink, and it may have made it taste even better.
"At the Sazerac House, we
believe that cocktails bring people together, so even though we cannot
physically be together, cocktails and the art of making them together can make
us feel a community spirit," Solorzano said. "We feel a great responsibility to
bring the spirit of hospitality to our guests in a time that is very difficult
for everyone, and we are proud that 10 percent of the sales of our curbside
cocktail kits will benefit the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation."
For those missing their favorite
bartenders, one can donate to the World's Biggest Tip Jar, sponsored by Fireball, through GoFundMe, to support
bartenders and service industry members during these troubling times. Learning
about our city through spirits with virtual workshops is a terrific way to
enjoy our beloved city while still practicing social distancing.
When it is safe to do so, the
Sazerac House will open its doors for customers, ensuring that extra safety
precautions are being put into place.
"We are currently working on our
plans for reopening safely while maintaining the interaction and immersive
experiences we have built at the Sazerac House," Solorzano said. "We are
building in extra sanitizing and distancing measures and adjusting our guests'
interactions with staff to be appropriate for this time."
COVID-19 has affected everyone,
and efforts are being taken by the community to support not only businesses but
the residents themselves. Thanks to the Sazerac House, the virtual cocktail
workshops make it possible for participants to unwind for a moment and sip on
the drinks that they once had at a New Orleans bar.
"It seems like so long ago that
we had a full house here, and we're looking forward to doing that as soon as it
is safe," Solorzano said. "We miss interacting with guests from all over the
world and sharing the history of our city and its cocktails. Just the idea of
being able to ask guests where they are from and what brought them to the
Sazerac House is exciting!"
