New Orleans Cocktail Tour: An In-depth Review

Getting to wander the Big Easy with a drink in hand while hearing cool stories? That just sounds, to me, like a pretty ideal afternoon. New Orleans and its famed Cocktail Tours have a charm like very few other experiences out there. If you’re wondering whether a cocktail walking tour is actually worth your money and, more importantly, your time, stick around, ’cause that’s what we will discuss here!

What to Expect from a New Orleans Cocktail Tour

New Orleans cocktail tours, in some respects, try to give you an experience, blending cool historical facts with tastes of local spirits, it’s almost like a really fun school trip. That is, instead of some boring classroom, your learning happens on the spirited streets of the French Quarter or maybe the Garden District. You can usually expect to visit somewhere around three to five different spots, and at each location, you get, you know, not only to sample a drink, yet you’ll hear some cool stories about the creation and also history tied to it. Tours like these, that I’ve seen, can take anywhere from two to three hours, so wear comfy shoes!

Often, your tour, in a way, will start at some landmark bar, maybe somewhere like the famous Napoleon House, or perhaps Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop. These starting spots are picked not just for their name recognition, too, yet they also have this interesting, rich history to them. The tour, you know, moves at a relaxed pace, which gives you an opportunity to really see and sense the vibe of the neighborhoods. Between bars, your guide usually points out landmarks and gives snippets of the story, from ghost stories to tales of voodoo, and even accounts of the city’s role during different times.

The Drinks

Okay, this is actually what most people are wondering about. What drinks can you even count on getting during the tour? Expect to see the classics that actually made New Orleans so renowned. Sazeracs are a must, so are Hurricanes. These drinks usually use local ingredients like Herbsaint and different rums, things that define NOLA tastes. These drinks can pack a punch, so I usually suggest eating something before. Pretty much every location tries to pair each sample with a short explanation about why this specific item is iconic. You actually get an, in some respects, educational drinking experience.

A particularly memorable experience, for me anyway, occurred at a cozy, almost hidden place down a quiet street. This bar, actually, was really old and cozy. They handed us this Sazerac. Not only was the cocktail mixed, actually, but the story that came with it – about its creation in a local pharmacy back in the 1800s and everything else– made the drink even better. After that Sazerac, the Hurricanes hit real hard. It just enhanced that very feeling of connection to the city.

The Guides and the Storytelling

The guides for New Orleans cocktail tours can really make or break the entire experience. The good ones don’t just know their stuff about bartending, they know how to tell a story and, to me anyway, that makes everything worthwhile. Often, you’ll find the local guides love this city. Their stories can span centuries, too. You’re going to hear a lot. Often, the guide shares personal anecdotes, also – maybe a quirky thing about living in the city. It, that, just makes the tour more genuine. It just is.

During a tour, one of my guides, maybe, pointed out this unassuming building. From the outside, basically, it seemed, perhaps, regular, so you wouldn’t really think of it. Actually, yet he shared that it was used as a meeting spot by pirates ages back, so I would never have known, you know? She then talked about how it played into the making of one particular cocktail that they tried. I’m saying, actually, she connected the history, place, and drink into some compelling story. The key is actually just knowing that not every tour company emphasizes a good storyteller so I just try to do a bit of research before committing. Looking at reviews and tour highlights for sure will show which tours usually prioritize it.

Picking the Right Cocktail Tour

So, how can anyone make sure you pick just the right one? First think about the feel that you want. Do you only wanna try drinks? Are you needing that little historical info about the city and their concoctions? Look at tour length, so it’s something you’re up for. Look at reviews online, too, and then what their guides are described as.

There actually exist some companies that just center completely on premium spirits with really intimate settings, too, for smaller cliques; I mean you probably want those, maybe, if that’s how you do stuff. I feel, maybe, those smaller tours let, perhaps, your tour person tailor their insight given specific preference. Then I suggest some that usually weave history and landmarks too; therefore those usually suit travelers aiming not, definitely, for booze and stories, too! Do your due dilligence, though; a cheaper option won’t really offer exactly good liquor too!

Cost and What’s Included

So what do these tours, I mean, typically even cost? In NOLA, I want to say most usually start anywhere close to $50 upwards to maybe about $90, maybe so. Price differences, too, tend to even revolve on such, say, locations, drinks offered, plus if they toss bonuses in (like appetizer snacks or souvenirs, actually!). Often consider the fact that tipping is pretty very standard. Depending too if the thing was really great just add 18% to 20% as that just feels okay given you enjoyed themselves.

Generally tours are set usually. What that tends includes means it must include almost samples, like your guide itself including insights also. In effect do also double check to what amounts you’d shell out, even including perhaps taxes too, and perhaps just in-case that cancellation plans might exist. Confirm about the group’s size also for good socialization!

Alternatives to a Guided Tour

Sometimes doing personal explorations can be an ideal replacement to the guided exploration especially that the tours often include tight schedule restraints that don’t suit every preference here too. Instead craft such “drink explorations”, as what usually works ideal depending about preference especially for someone trying at own direction actually.

Begin about looking on well popular drink listings then pick just probably around 4 to 5 places that catch such eye then decide doing there depending depending about which attracts by just walking between streets itself actually . Doing it DIY often proves much worthwhile by means where at liberty on perhaps staying if place offers attraction too with you. I suggest doing small pre reading of various establishments’ drink offering alongside interesting bits too given deeper knowledge on enjoying stuff almost completely solo too ! This exploration method suits really perfectly someone appreciating exploring at slower rates while leaving random surprises take over.