BAR TAB
BY MISTY MIL IO TO
BURLESQUE BRUNCH
The Commander’s Palace Family of Restaurants recently reopened SoBou at W New Orleans – French Quarter with Byron Haliburton as the new chef de cuisine. Open for dinner service on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (both indoor and outside courtyard dining), the restaurant also is reviving its “Legs and Eggs Burlesque Brunch” with the “Big Hooch” served in giant flasks for the table. If you’re in the mood for something a bit more sophisticated, try the “Paris Between the Wars” (made with Campari, blended Scotch whisky, brut Cava, lemon juice and simple syrup). 310 Chartres St., 552-4095, Sobounola.com.
NEW YEAR, NEW RELEASES
Disco Amigos Mardi Gras parades may not be rolling this year, but Jack Rose, located within the Pontchartrain Hotel, will still be celebrating. The convivial restaurant is serving specialty Mardi Gras cocktails through February 16 that are sure to put you in the spirit of carnival. Signature libations include the stunning “Disco Punch Bowl,” a boozy, large-format concoction, featuring Mt. Gay Eclipse Rum, Bigallet China-China Liqueur, Suze, Falernum syrup, fresh-squeezed lime and pineapple juice, and a full bottle of Prosecco. 2031 St. Charles Ave., 323-1500, Jackroserestaurant.com.
Urban South Brewery, the largest craft brewery in New Orleans, closed out 2020 having released more than 190 unique beers. The brewery has also announced its beer release schedule for 2021, which, in addition to a growing beer portfolio, also includes new seasonal craft beers, a line of hard seltzers and a series of specialty releases. Some of the 2021 highlights include the release of Rocket Pop Gose as the new spring/ summer seasonal offering in April 2021 and the release of Throwback Vibes as the winter seasonal beer. Meanwhile, Paradise Park Hard Seltzer (available in flavors like Lime Cucumber, Raspberry Limeade and Rocket Pop) is now available year-round. New for 2021, Urban South will release a rotation of specialty beer throughout the year, such as popular Snoball Juice variants, a Jameson barrel-aged coffee stout and a variety of 10-K Goses inspired by the regional sports drink. 1645 Tchoupitoulas St., 267-4852, Urbansouthbrewery.com.
LARGE-FORMAT COCKTAILS
Barracuda, the neighborhood taco stand and margarita garden on Tchoupitoulas Street (soon with a new location on the Westbank), is offering large-format (32-ounce) jugs of cocktails that are perfect to-go and to keep stocked up in your fridge. The cocktail option includes, but is not limited to, the 100 percent agave, fresh-squeezed lime juice margaritas on tap made with Lunazul Blanco Tequila. Also be sure to ask about the seasonal frozen drink option on offer. 3984 Tchoupitoulas St., 266-2961, 446 Pelican Ave., Gretna, Eatbarracuda.com.
PICKLEBACK THROWBACK
The idea for the world’s first spicy pickle-flavored whiskey, dubbed Whicked Pickle, came about at Weston, Missouribased Holladay Distillery as an homage to the legendary prickleback shot. It seemed just as obvious as it was exciting to put pickle-flavored whiskey in a bottle. The whiskey, which was first introduced throughout Missouri, Kansas and Wisconsin, has now launched nationally and hit the shelves in Louisiana. The dill pickle-flavored whiskey has a peppery heat on the finish and is best enjoyed as a shot, straight or chilled. However, it also brings new life to classic cocktails as an unexpected substitution for vodka or gin. Whickedpickle. com.
