Mardi Gras takes place on 1 March this year and we’ll take every opportunity to celebrate this year and this one is a great place to start.

Mardi Gras is one of the most iconic celebrations of all time and is celebrated around the world with vibrant parades, dancing, flamboyant costumes, tasty food and of course Hurricane cocktails. All the things we love.

If we’ve put you in the Mardi Gras mood here’s some classic cocktails to help get your party started

Drinks

Hurricane

The hurricane cocktail is a well-known New Orleans tradition. The drink was invented in the French Quarter in the 1940s and is considered the quintessential Mardi Gras cocktail.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces light rum
• 2 ounces dark rum
• 2 ounces passion fruit juice
• 1 ounce orange juice
• ½ ounce lime juice
• 1 tablespoon simple syrup
• 1 tablespoon grenadine
• Ice
• Orange slice for garnish (link)

Instructions

1. Pour ice, rums, passion fruit juice, orange juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and grenadine into a  cocktail shaker (link) and share to chill.
2. Strain into a hurricane glass over fresh ice and garnish.

 

Ramos Gin Fizz

Invented in the New Orleans Bar, Imperial Cabinet Saloon in the late 1800s, this variation on a gin fizz is classic New Orleans and, therefore, classic Mardi Gras.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces gin
• 2 ounces half and half
• ½ ounce lime juice 
• ½ ounce lemon juice 
• 2 drops orange blossom water
• Egg white
• Ice
• Club soda to top off
• Lemon peel or wedge for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, add gin, half and half, lime juice, lemon juice, orange blossom water, and egg white and shake for 60 seconds.
2. Add ice and shake vigorously for two minutes.
3. Strain into highball glass.
4. Slowly top off with club soda.

 

Moon Pie Cocktail

Of course, New Orleans isn't the only place to celebrate Mardi Gras. Participants throw moon pies in Mobile, Alabama's Mardi Gras celebration, so the moon pie cocktail is the perfect Mardi Gras drink.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces chocolate liqueur, chilled
• 4 ounces milk or half and half, chilled
• 2 ounces crème de banane, chilled
• Ice
• Chocolate shavings for garnish

Instructions

1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, chocolate liqueur, half and half, and crème de banane and shake
3. Strain into chilled martini glass and garnish with chocolate sprinkles .

 

Mardi Gras Blue Margarita

Ingredients

• 1/2 oz. (15 ml) Monin Blue Curaçao Syrup
• 1 oz. (30 ml) Sweet and Sour
• 1/4 oz. (5 ml) fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz. (15 ml) orange cognac
• 1 oz. (30 ml) silver tequila
• ice cubes

Instructions

1. Combine ingredients in shaker in the order listed.
2. Add ice cubes.
3. Cap and shake vigorously.
4. Strain into chilled margarita glass.
   
   

Brandy Crusta

Ingredients

• Lemon wedge and sugar for rim
• 2 ounces brandy
• ¼ ounce orange curaçao
• ¼ ounce maraschino liqueur
• ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ¼ ounce simple syrup
• 1-2 dashes aromatic bitters
• Ice
• Lemon peel for garnish

Instructions

1. Chill a coupe glass.
2. To prepare rim, rub the rim of the martini glass or coupe with the lemon wedge.
3. With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
4. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, brandy, orange curaçao, maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup, and bitters.
5. Shake to chill.
6. Strain into prepared glass.
   
   

And if you are serving food, here’s some suggestions… 

Shrimp Creole is a classic Mardi Gras dish with tomatoes, peppers, paprika and or course prawns. Serve in a cast iron effect round dish for everyone to share 

Chicken Jambalaya is a rice dish that originally from south Louisiana is a one pot wonder. We serve ours in terra porcelain bowls.

BBQ Ribs - Everyone loves finger food and thes are sweet and tasty. They look great on an olive wood serving board.