New Orleans comes alive for Carnival, fueled by music, parades, and the strong drinks powering Fat Tuesday keeping revelers dancing all day and night.
Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a marathon, not a sprint. While the season spans weeks of parades, masked balls, and street parties, the final days — Lundi Gras and Fat Tuesday — are fueled by indulgence, tradition, and Laissez les bons temps rouler…and here are the strong drinks powering Fat Tuesday.
Before Lent begins at midnight on Fat Tuesday, revelers embrace a last hurrah. From Bourbon Street to neighborhood parade routes, sugary, high-proof drinks have become the unofficial mascot of Carnival season. They’re portable, festive, and designed to keep pace with a day often beginning before sunrise and ends when the clock strikes twelve.
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King Cocktail: Dessert in a Glass (With a Kick)
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Cognac Park VS
- 0.75 oz Kringle Cream Liqueur
- 0.75 oz pecan syrup
- 0.75 oz cream
- 2 dashes cherry vanilla bitters
Create
- Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake vigorously.
- Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Why it’s strong: Cognac plus liqueur creates a deceptively smooth drink and goes down fast — much like King Cake itself.
Police & Thieves Swizzle: Parade-Ready Potency
Swizzles are a Caribbean cousin to New Orleans’ famous rum drinks, and this version leans fully into Mardi Gras decadence. Crushed ice softens the blow, but make no mistake — this cocktail is “stiff as hell.”
Ingredients
- 2 oz English Harbour 5-year rum
- 1 oz fresh pineapple juice
- 0.75 oz fresh lime juice
- 0.5 oz Giffard Banane du Brésil
- 0.5 oz Taylor Velvet Falernum
- 0.5 oz Cruzan Blackstrap rum
- 4 dashes Angostura bitters
- Mint for garnish
Create
- Shake the rum, juices, banana liqueur, and falernum without ice.
- Strain into a Collins glass filled with crushed ice.
- Float bitters and blackstrap rum on top.
- Garnish with a large mint sprig.
Why it’s strong: Multiple rums layered together create depth — and a surprisingly high alcohol content.
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Easy Hurricane: The Bourbon Street Classic
No Mardi Gras drink list is complete without the Hurricane, the iconic French Quarter cocktail known for its fruity flavor and formidable strength. This simplified version is perfect for home celebrations.
Ingredients
- 2 oz dark rum
- 1 oz light rum
- 1 oz passion fruit juice
- 1 oz orange juice
- 0.5 oz lime juice
- 0.5 oz simple syrup or grenadine
Create
- Fill a shaker with ice and add all ingredients.
- Shake well and pour into a tall glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with an orange slice and cherry.
Why it’s strong: Two types of rum plus sweet juices make this drink dangerously easy to sip — a hallmark of Bourbon Street favorites.
Mardi Gras is famous for excess, but the real magic lies in the music, parades, and sense of community. Pace yourself, hydrate, and remember: the celebration ends at midnight on Fat Tuesday, but the memories last long after the beads are packed away.
Whether you’re parade-hopping in New Orleans or hosting your own Carnival gathering, these super-strong cocktails deliver the bold flavors — and punch — worthy of the season’s grand finale.
