Tuesday, 09 February 2010

• The New Orleans Hand Grenade: It May Not Have You On The Ground

  
  The body of a Hand Grenade, left for dead on a NOLA street, much like you would be if you imbibed its soul.

  
  New Orleans is probably the most culturally defiant city in all of America. The accent of the area, the race/heritage of its people, the set-up of the city, its laws, its favorite hobbies, and its favorite foods are unlike any other in the surrounding regions.
  
  It is one of few cities where outdoor drinking is legal, and both male and female (yes, male also...my memories of NOLA nudity are equal opportunity) flashing is encouraged.
  
  Considering this, one could appropriately guess that New Orleans is a city that knows how to party.
  
  If you go to New Orleans, many of the locals will regale you with tales of how hard NOLA parties, how it will eat you up and spit you out, how you'll wake up places you have no idea about, in bars that are hundreds of years old...
  
  And then you'll be told about the Hand Grenade (no, not the ugly chick that's friends with the hot girl you're trying to hook up with-I'm talking about the drink concoction).
  
  It is regaled as *THE DRINK* that embodies all of Nawlins' hard partying-the drink that will take you UNDER-just one of these and you'll be gone all night!!
  
  Excited after hearing all of this, I naturally began my night with one. Waited a little while. Hmmm. It's not kicking in. OK I guess I'll have another.
  
  

  
  Sign at Tropical Aisle: one of four exclusive locations which sell the Hand Grenade. Click the website, it's a good time.
  

  
  Hmmm/*Time passes*/etc...
  
  I was not knocked out, and I'm a small biddy who had TWO. Why were these grown ass men toting this drink to me as though it would have me wilin' out?! Were they just messing with me, or trying to look out for me in some way? I don't know. I'll never know why hand grenades did nothing for me (unless one of you just tells me).
  
  The "top secret" recipe is listed online as:
  
  1½ oz rum
  1½ oz gin
  1½ oz vodka
  1½ oz grain alcohol
  1½ oz melon liquor
  
  Serve over crushed ice and garnished with mint.
  
  After all of that, all I can say is-perhaps-NJ parties much harder than NOLA...it is called the Big Easy, so it doesn't shock me that they'd probably recommend NJ take it down a few notches (if they ever came to NJ and saw how high our notch was, but they'd never do that because-come on, now-why would you leave NOLA? EVER!?).
  
  But-in honor of the Saints win, the upcoming Mardi Gras, and (New Orlean's own) Lil Wayne's upcoming prison sentence, I will down how ever many of these it takes to get a mild buzz going.
  
  Have you ever had a Hand Grenade? Would you drink this drink? What's your favorite recipe/cocktail from New Orleans?
  
  

  • 5:54 PM
  • 4453 Views
  • 12 eProps
  • 13 Comments