Mardi Gras, which literally means Fat Tuesday, is the last day for Catholics to celebrate, before Ash Wednesday, and the start of Lent. It’s also the opportunity for a massive party in New Orleans (NOLA), a city which also has a special place in cocktail history. To help you celebrate Mardi Gras on the 17th of February, we have for you some special cocktails.

Hurricane

A staple on NOLA’s cocktail scene, today, even the glass itself is a souvenir of New Orleans, and servers at Pat O’Brien’s, where the drink was first made will helpfully box yours to go when you’re finished.

Ingredients

• 45 ml Light Rum
• 30 ml Dark rum
• 30 ml Orange Juice fresh
• 30 ml Pineapple Juice fresh
• 15 ml Lime Juice
• 10 ml Passion Fruit syrup
• Splash of Grenadine

Preparation

Shake all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a hurricane glass.

Daiquiri

One of the most famous cocktails on Bourbon Street, NOLA. Additional fame came to the humble daiquiri when President John F. Kennedy proclaimed it his favorite pre-dinner drink.

Ingredients

• 45 ml Light Rum
• 20 ml Lime Juice
• 15 ml Sugar Syrup

Preparation

Pour all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake. Strain into a cocktail glass.

Ramos Gin Fizz

Invented by a New Orleans barkeep, this gin drink tastes like a floral bouquet, thanks to the addition of orange flower water.

Ingredients

• 60 ml Gin
• 15 ml Lime Juice
• 15 ml Sugar Syrup 2:1
• 30 ml Fresh Cream
• dash of Egg white pasteurized
• 3 drops Vanilla Essence
• few dashes of Orange flower water
• top up with Soda

Preparation

Add all ingredients, except soda, in a shaker and hard shake. Strain into glass and top with soda.