6. New Orleans

Since the early 19th century when local apothecary Antoine Amadie Peychaud was dispensing his own brand of bitters as a form of medicine, New Orleans and alcohol have gone hand-in-hand. As expected, the city that is rumored to have provided the world the first cocktail is out in front of the craft cocktail movement. And with the heart of the city being a street named after a spirit, what else would you expect? Most visitors to Bourbon Street head to Pat O’Brien’s to drink its famous Hurricane. For a more authentic experience, head to Bar Uncommon at the Renaissance Pere Marquette Hotel instead, located at the corner of Baronne and Common. Try the “Winkle,”a perfect harmony of Tanqueray’s No. Ten, freshly squeezed lemon, simple syrup, raspberries, sage leaf, and egg white. Also, it’s not on the menu, but the Mint Juleps are almost as famous as is he among locals. If you’re lucky, he might even recite a few lines from a 19th-century ode to the Mint Julep. And no trip to the Big Easy is complete without a Sazerac, named from the brand of French Brandy commonly used to make it, Sazerac-du-Forge et fils. (817 Common St., New Orleans, LA; 504-525-1111)

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