For years, boozy options at Jazz Fest were limited to beer, daiquiris and mini bottles of wine, but that’s changed dramatically in recent years. Now, there’s all sorts of adult refreshments to be had at the Fair Grounds. And choice is a good thing! From Wild Turkey to Tito’s to some sort of a flat strawberry nightmare in a can, you can truly have it all at the track.
First up, there’s the classics: beer, some more beer, a few other beers and, of course, beer. There is beer EVERYWHERE. In fact, if you can’t find a beer at the festival, you’re probably not actually at Jazz Fest. Either that or you’ve overserved yourself and need some water and a nice shady spot to sit down and think about your choices.
And it's not just Miller Lite. There are other classic American brews like Coors available, Abita brand beers, even Stella and other exotic types of delicious hops-based beverages to drink.
Similarly, there’s wine to be had in several locations, including a (mostly) wine bar in the Rhythmporium Tent (more on that later).
Ahhh, you may be saying to yourself, is the OG of hard liquor fest drinks, the venerable daiquiri, still around?
The frozen cocoloco in all its glory
Why, yes, yes there are daiquiris for all you frozen-drink maniacs out there. This is New Orleans, after all. But remember, these sugary treats are basically hangover time bombs, so don’t go too ham on ’em.
Speaking of which, a word of warning: Over the course of Weekend 1 this year, we saw more than a few folks who could barely stay on their feet, some unfortunate souls who were fully passed out and a horrendous and disgusting situation involving a backpack and somebody’s daquiri-colored stomach contents all over it.
While we’re not sure it's because of all the new hard liquor options available, there did seem to be more clearly drunk folks stumbling about the festival than in past years. Now, we’re not here to tell you not to drink. However, like any other substance worth taking, alcohol needs to be respected, particularly when you’re talking about hard liquor.
But that can be hard to gauge when the liquor is mixed in a delicious daiquiri or cocktail. So we beg of you, always remember that just because you can’t taste the booze doesn’t mean it's not there. We assure you, nobody at the track is trying to get one over on you and sell you a drink without much booze in it. Pace yourselves, drink lots of water between drinks and please, please, please remember that if you do go too far ... don’t puke on our editor’s backpack. Again.
Strawberry lemonade has long been a tradition at Jazz Fest, appealing to all ages in search of a sweet, tart, hydrating refreshment that helps beat the heat. But this year there’s an adults-only version fortified with Tito’s vodka, which we felt compelled to try upon entering the gates.
When asked how strong the $15 drink was, a nice lady at the lemonade booth by the Fair Grounds’ entrance said, “I don’t know, baby, it’s pre-mixed.” A festivalgoer in line behind us helpfully chimed in, “I had three yesterday." That didn’t exactly answer the question, but it did make us wonder if the “Welcome Back!” sign above the booth was especially for her.
Her enthusiasm served as a testimonial to the drink’s popularity this year, and for good reason: It’s a simple classic, and the boozy variety tastes pretty much exactly like the original.
At the Tito’s tent, which is between the Jazz & Heritage Stage and Festival Stage, the menu also includes a Krewe du Brewe spiked cold brew.
The Tito’s tent is just down from the Wild Turkey tent, which has its own bourbon cocktail menu.
If you like pina coladas, head over to the Cultural Exchange Pavilion and try its Colombian counterpart, the cocoloco. The drink is popular on the beaches of Colombia’s Caribbean-side Cartagena region and can be made with a few types of liquors, including rum and tequila. Jazz Fest’s version incorporates aguardiente, a traditional dry spirit made with sugar cane, water and anise, along with coconut and lime. It's a delicious, creamy treat with a hint of citrus, tasting more like a dessert than a cocktail. We've noticed pretty much everyone who has tried it has been raving about it. Order it on the rocks for $12.50, or for a dollar more, you can get it frozen.
The Rhythmpourium tent has become an increasingly popular stage at Jazz Fest, presenting mostly local, up-and-coming acts — and a crowd that seems to be in the know. The tent's bar has fancier wine offerings for those who want to take it a step above the mini bottles being sold around the Fair Grounds.
Bartenders serve a Cotes du Rhone blanc, a Cotes du Rhone rouge and rose, in addition to prosecco, mimosas, frose (which also includes vodka) and a drink called the Louisiana Lemonade, which is spiked with vodka. The lemonade isn’t overly sweet or boozy tasting, and it’s delicious enough that our lemonade-averse editor finished one off in minutes.
Wine costs $9.50 a glass and $48 for a liter carafe, while the cocktails range from $11.50 to $12.50.
Over by the Grandstands you can buy a “refresher” from Happy Thursday, which has a small pop-up booth selling spiked, still (as opposed to carbonated) refreshers. The drinks are basically Boone’s Farm in a can, i.e., sugary water with 4.4% alcohol content, but it’s an option for those who don’t want something too strong or bubbly.
Ryan Scully enjoying a mocktail
Meanwhile, for those who don’t imbibe, the One Million Strong tent offers a sense of community and some fantastic, refreshing mocktails on tap just outside the tent. The Bayou Basil Quencher at $7.50 is a concoction of watermelon, lemon, and house-made basil and agave syrup, while the $8 Voodoo Mint Fizz is made with ginger beer and lime juice. A third option, the $8 Crescent City Citrus Parade, was our favorite, with a blend of tangerine, cherry, hibiscus and yuzu craft fizzy soda, garnished with a satsuma.
The tent is a sober-supportive space that provides resources for people who have been impacted by addiction. There’s plenty of comfortable seating, a photo booth, and snacks including candy. One of our friends lit up upon discovering a jar filled with Starbursts and said, “They really know what we sober guys like.”
In New Orleans, you’re always either eating or planning your next meal.
