Sippin’ Safari

The 19th century not only gave New Orleans the gift of jazz, but also produced classic cocktails like the Sazerac, Ramos Gin Fizz and Brandy Milk Punch. Thanks to Tales of the Cocktail, New Orleans’ cocktail scene is as high-spirited as ever. For 20 years, the world’s premier cocktail festival has been beguiling bartenders with the city’s charms. Many like Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, the world’s leading Tiki historian and author of six books, including Sippin’ Safari, have returned home, packed up, and moved to the Crescent City. His bar Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29, is one of three of the best in the French Quarter that serve exotic cocktails. They are pretty much in a straight line, on streets running along the river, minimizing chances of getting lost as the sippin' safari progresses.

Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29

This bar is a temple to tiki. Floor-to-ceiling shelves of vintage glasses and rum bottles line the walls and legendary tiki carver, Tiki Diablo, created the mural behind the bar—a map of islands marked with antique tiki glasses. Start with a Mai Tai based on the original Trader Vic’s recipe from 1944. The seductive mix of aged Martinique and Jamaican rums, Curaçao and lime is blessedly not too sweet. latitude29nola.com

Cane & Table

With bare plaster walls, chandeliers and an arc of a marble bar, this is one romantic watering hole. The menu of inventive drinks is arranged like a compass, pointing to adventurous, heady, classic and refreshing. Your drink might come in a whole pineapple or a tall glass with bands of colors poured over crushed ice. Tiki on with the Bossa Colada, a spin on a Piña Colada. Made with Bäska Snaps, a Swedish-style bitter spirit, lime and fresh pineapple, it’s refreshing. caneandtablenola.com

Tiki Tock

Located in the Frenchman Hotel, you won’t find celebrity bartenders, but tiki classics and originals are expertly prepared. The tropical decor and drinks like the Tally Me Banana, a mix of rums, real coconut cream, pineapple and lime, lend credence to their motto, Time Flies When You’re Having a Run. tiki-tock.com

This version of this post originally appeared in Leader's Edge Magazine.