It’s always Whiskey Day in New Orleans
In New Orleans, there’s no shortage of unique cultural traditions and flavorful culinary delights. But one of the city’s most storied claims to fame is its rich ties to whiskey.
As the gateway to the Mississippi, New Orleans has always been a hub for commerce. In the 1800s, that meant vast quantities of Kentucky whiskey poured through its port. But New Orleanians weren’t satisfied to simply drink the stuff – we had to turn it into something entirely their own.
Enter the Sazerac. This iconic cocktail originated in New Orleans in the mid-1800s, and it quickly became a staple of the city’s bustling bar scene. Made with rye whiskey, sugar, absinthe, and bitters, the Sazerac is a bold and complex drink that perfectly captures the spirit of New Orleans.
But whiskey’s importance to the city extends beyond our signature cocktail. We’ve been the home to The Sazerac Company for more than 150 years. Whether it’s sipping a smooth and spicy glass of Buffalo Trace neat or enjoying a classic Old Fashioned made with EH Taylor, Sazerac’s whiskeys are a signature part of any Sazerac House visit.
But what really sets New Orleans apart is the way we blend our whiskeys with other aspects of our culture. Whether it’s a Whiskey Mule, a Manhattan, or a Sazerac, wherever we gather, we come up with creative ways to savor our favorite whiskeys.
In the end, whiskey is just one more piece of the puzzle that makes New Orleans a city unlike anywhere else. And for those who know and love us, it’s an essential ingredient in the recipe for a truly unforgettable experience. So, if you’re ever in New Orleans, join us at the Sazerac House and raise a glass to our city’s rich whiskey heritage.
Events
The Weller Classroom Experience
Step into the story of one of bourbon’s most enduring families and discover how William Larue Weller helped pioneer the wheated style that would later inspire the Van Winkle legacy. This guided tasting explores four expressions—Special Reserve, CYPB, Full Proof, and Single Barrel—tracing Weller’s journey from the days of the Stitzel-Weller Distillery through the industry’s quiet decades of the 1970s and 1980s to its modern revival under Buffalo Trace. Guests will nose, taste, and compare each whiskey in an elegant classroom setting, uncovering how proof, age, and history intertwine to shape the signature richness of Weller and the heritage of American bourbon.
E.H. Taylor Bourbon Experience
Experience the craftsmanship and legacy of E.H. Taylor through an exclusive guided tasting featuring five of the distillery's most sought-after expressions. Guests will enjoy pours of E.H. Taylor line showcasing the remarkable range and innovation of the Taylor portfolio. Through each pour and discussion, discover how Taylor's relentless pursuit of excellence shaped the bourbon industry and created innovations whose influence can still be found in distilleries around the world
Smugglers and Spirits
This program explores the people who operated along the edges of the law in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, including pirates, privateers, smugglers, river bandits, bootleggers, and other notorious figures. Through historical storytelling and beverage interpretation, guests learn how Louisiana's waterways, ports, and frontier conditions created opportunities for both commerce and crime. Cocktail pours are incorporated throughout the program to connect the stories to the spirits that shaped the region's culture and economy.
Wheated Bourbon Origins Experience
Explore the legacy of Pappy Van Winkle and the innovation that transformed bourbon by replacing rye with wheat, creating the smooth, approachable style known today as wheated bourbon. Enjoy a guided tasting featuring three elevated expressions of Weller, the Original Wheated Bourbon, before concluding with a rare taste of one of the world's most sought-after bourbons. Discover the history, craftsmanship, and lasting influence behind bourbon's most iconic wheated whiskey tradition.
Science of Spirits
Shake up your cocktail knowledge with a guided tasting featuring premium spirits and handcrafted cocktails, including Sazerac Rye, Jung & Wulff Guyana Rum, a Clarified Whiskey Sour, a Coconut Oil-Washed Rum Old Fashioned, and a Buffalo Trace Paper Plane.
House of Cocktails Class
Discover how a well-chosen liqueur can transform a simple drink into a show-stopping cocktail. Guests will explore the history of classic cocktails while unlocking endless possibilities with the Sazerac House of Cocktail line of liqueurs. Learn simple techniques, flavor-building tips, and creative applications that will transform the way you mix. Sip. Experiment and leave inspired to elevate every cocktail you make.
Behind The Bar
Go beyond following recipes and learn how to build a cocktail that's truly your own. Behind the Bar is an interactive old fashioned cocktail class where you'll explore how small ingredient choices create dramatically different flavor profiles. Rather than making the same drink as everyone else, you'll customize your cocktail by selecting from a curated range of premium spirits, sweeteners, bitters, and garnishes. Your experience begins with a welcome cocktail crafted by the instructor before you step “behind the bar” to experiment with your own creation
Meet the Distiller: Small Group Tour & Tasting
Step behind the scenes with the artisans who bring Sazerac’s legendary spirits to life. “Meet the Distiller” is an exclusive, hour-long experience that begins with a private VIP tour through the Sazerac House distillery and historic Apothecary. Guests will enjoy insider access, behind-the-barrel stories, and a rare glimpse into the craft and science of our production process. Following the tour, you’ll join our distiller in their private tasting room for a curated guided tasting of four Sazerac expressions — hand-selected and presented by the distiller. This intimate setting allows guests to explore the flavors, techniques, and traditions that define our spirits.
