Vieux Carré

One of the most famous drinks associated with New Orleans is the Vieux Carré, however, to fully get the feeling of the origins of this drink, you must first know about the Hotel Monteleone and its Carousel Bar and Lounge. The Hotel Monteleone, located in New Orleans’ French Quarter, was purchased by Antonio Monteleone, a Sicilian immigrant, nobleman, and heir to a shoe business in Italy. A cobbler himself, he opened a shop on Royal Street in the French Quarter and when a building came on the market close to his shop, he leaped at the opportunity. He named the hotel after his family and it became known as the Hotel Monteleone. The hotel stayed in his family after his death and remains in the family even now.

The carousel bar was installed in the bar and lounge of the Hotel Monteleone in 1949. This unique rotating bar has 25 seats adorned with paintings of circus animals on them that face inward towards the ornate bar that resembles the middle of a carousel. The revolution takes 15 minutes, perfect for a slow twirl around to get a good look at your surroundings, without leaving you stumbling, disoriented, and wondering why you were sitting on a circus animal. The Carousel Bar and Lounge was wildly popular with many 19th century authors and was even mentioned in their writings. Among the fans of this unique bar were Earnest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Anne Rice, William Faulkner, and Truman Capote. The Carousel Bar and Lounge encompasses everything that makes New Orleans unique and popular. The Hotel Monteleone and the Carousel Bar and Lounge continues to be celebrated today, with locals and tourists alike flocking to the unusual and eccentric, yet classic bar for fun and a glimpse into a story and past like no other.

With all the history and lore surrounding the Carousel Bar, it’s no surprise that one of the most noteworthy cocktails came from such a place. The Vieux Carré, pronounced “voh-careeh” and meaning “old square” or “old quarter” after the French Quarter where the hotel and bar are located. While the exact date the drink was invented is a little fuzzy, much like the feeling you get after one too many Vieux Carrés, it’s known the recipe was published in 1937 in the book “Famous New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix Em.” One thing everyone can agree on is who is responsible for this classic New Orleans staple, Hotel Monteleone bartender Walter Bergeron. He came up with the drink to honor all the ethnic groups that made up the New Orleans French Quarter culture at the time. He used rye whiskey for the Americans, sweet vermouth for the Italians, cognac and Benedictine for the French, and bitters in honor of the Caribbean Islanders. With all these ingredients, the Vieux Carré adds up to be about 30% alcohol. This concoction packs a strong punch and is conservatively referred to as a “slow sipper.” Despite the strong nature of this drink, the Vieux Carré is one of the most popular drinks ordered at the Hotel Monteleone’s Carousel Bar, although the staff reminds their customers, you must be 21 to ride this carousel.

Vieux Carré

INGREDIENTS:

¼ oz. Benedictine

¼ oz. Cognac

½ oz. Rye Whiskey

¼ oz. Sweet Vermouth

3 drops Angostura Bitters

3 drops Peychaud Bitters

DIRECTIONS:

Mix all ingredients until blended. Pour over ice in a rocks glass and garnish with lemon twist.