The Sazerac House: Cocktails on a Float

Where New Orleans’ signature drink meets parade day magic.

In a city famous for its cocktails, few names carry as much weight—or as much history—as the Sazerac House.

A relatively new addition to Canal Street’s historic corridor, the Sazerac House has quickly become one of the most exciting cultural attractions in New Orleans.

Part museum, part distillery, and part interactive experience, it tells the story of the city’s legendary drinking culture while pouring a toast to the cocktail that started it all.

A New Landmark with Old-School Spirit

Opened in 2019, the Sazerac House occupies a beautifully restored building at the corner of Canal and Magazine Streets, right at the gateway to the French Quarter. Inside, visitors are transported through the history of New Orleans’ cocktail scene—from apothecary shops and 19th-century saloons to the heyday of jazz-era barrooms. The space is a celebration of craftsmanship, hospitality, and the social rituals that have always been part of the city’s DNA.

The Sazerac: New Orleans in a Glass

At the heart of the museum is the drink it’s named for—the Sazerac, officially declared the Official Cocktail of New Orleans in 2008. Created in the mid-1800s, the drink blends rye whiskey (or sometimes cognac), a sugar cube, Peychaud’s Bitters, and a rinse of absinthe or Herbsaint. Served in an old-fashioned glass with a twist of lemon, it’s smooth, bold, and unapologetically New Orleans.

The Sazerac’s story is as layered as its flavors—rooted in Creole tradition, shaped by immigrant influence, and perfected in the city’s bustling bars. The Sazerac House keeps that legacy alive, teaching visitors how to craft the drink themselves in guided tastings.

Cocktails on a Float: A Parade First

For the 2026 Krewe of Les Bon Temps Rouler parade, the Sazerac House is taking its hospitality to the streets—literally. As a float sponsor, they’ll bring the essence of their museum to the route, complete with visuals of vintage bar counters, gleaming glassware, and larger-than-life bottles of bitters and rye. Think Mardi Gras meets cocktail hour, all wrapped in Kern Studios’ spectacular artistry.

While we can’t serve actual cocktails from the float (sorry, parade rules!), riders will throw themed trinkets and keepsakes inspired by the Sazerac’s rich history—because nothing says “laissez les bon temps rouler” quite like catching a mini cocktail shaker or a gold-accented souvenir cup.

A Cultural Toast to New Orleans

The Sazerac House isn’t just a bar museum—it’s a love letter to the culture of connection, conversation, and celebration that defines the Crescent City. In pairing with the Krewe of Les Bon Temps Rouler, they’re helping to raise a glass to everything that makes New Orleans unforgettable.

When the float rolls down Canal Street past the Sazerac House’s very own doorstep, it won’t just be a parade—it’ll be a toast to the city, its history, and the joy of sharing a drink (or a throw) with good company.