Lauren Sakiyama
Grab a mask and join the parade, but make sure you have a cocktail in hand! It’s Mardi Gras, after all, which means there’s no better time to partake. But don’t reach for your normal drink—mix it up to match the Mardi Gras scene.
The traditional meanings behind the Mardi Gras color scheme are purple for justice, green for faith, and gold for power. Whether you care about the reasons or not, we think the best way to celebrate the season is with a perfectly pigmented cocktail.
Pull out those Hurricane glasses, fill them with ice, and let’s get this feathered, beaded, booze-filled bash started! Try any of these seven Mardi-Gras-matching cocktails:
- Joker Gone Wild: Invented to pay homage to Batman’s archnemesis, the colors in this cocktail make it ideal for Mardi Gras. Be careful, though—rum and vodka in the same cocktail is nothing to joke about!
Get the Recipe: Hungry Forever
- Blueberry Smash: Don’t forget the lemon and lime rinds in this purple-hued drink. Together, they complete the traditional color scheme, making this one a Mardi Gras essential.
Get the Recipe: Bon Apetit
- Fleur Collins: Creme de Violet is the secret ingredient here. It gives a classic Tom Collins a fun, floral flavor and a perfectly purple pigment.
Get the Recipe: Hungry Girl Por Vida
- Limoncello: Limoncello is often sipped chilled or over ice without a mixer. You can make it at home using high-proof vodka and fresh lemons, or you can purchase it at high-end liquor stores. Of course, if these options fail to suit your fancy, a simple vodka with lemonade is a good substitute.
Get the Recipe: Delicious Table
- The Carnival Queen: We call it Mardi Gras, but much of the world refers to this celebration as Carnival. This cocktail pays homage to that and features the bright purple hues associated with the festivities.
Get the Recipe: Style on Main
- Pot of Gold Mimosa: This one layers green and gold to create a seriously festive champagne cocktail. Add a purple sugar rim to complete the Mardi Gras theme.
Get the Recipe: Champagne and Coconuts
- The Verdant Lady: Chartreuse is the magic ingredient you need to turn this grown-up gin-based mojito green. There’s not much in the way of purple or gold in this one, but the green is so gorgeous, we couldn’t help but include it.
Get the Recipe: Bojon Gourmet
If there was ever a time to ditch your ordinary cocktail for something festive, sweet, and strong, it’s Mardi Gras. So, put on that feathered mask, make sure you have plenty of beads, and indulge while you can—Lent is coming!
