Sip Happens: Louisiana’s Sweet Spot Cocktail Trail Returns

Stay thirsty, my friend, as you travel the spirited roads a short drive from New Orleans.

We'll always brake for cocktails—especially in Louisiana, birthplace of the cocktail.

The Louisiana’s Sweet Spot Cocktail Trail takes place throughout Ascension Parish, a short drive west-northwest of New Orleans and easily accessible by Interstate 10. The trail invites visitors to sip, savor and sample their way through Ascension Parish’s most spirited stops. Now in its fifth year, this summer tradition sponsored by the Ascension Parish Tourism Commission (APTC), the Parish of Ascension and Noel Family Distillery, returns with a record-breaking 20 participating locations. That makes this year’s the largest event to date.

This sweet adventure runs May through July 31, 2026, and guests can pick up a Cocktail Trail passport at a participating location and embark on a self-guided tour of restaurants and distilleries, each serving up a signature “Sweet Spot Cocktail” that was created just for this occasion. Along the way, participants collect stamps for every drink they try, from fruity sips to bold, spirit-forward creations by local mixologists in small businesses across the parish.

Participants who collect eight or more stamps can redeem their passport at the visitor center (located at 2300 S. Tanger Boulevard, Suite 136 Gonzales, LA 70737) for a cocktail-themed gift. They’ll also be entered into the grand prize giveaway, so it quite literally pays to sip local!

Weird, Wacky & Wild South is written by cocktail lover Cheré Coen. That's Cheré enjoying a Ramos Gin Fizz in her hometown of New Orleans. She's kinda related - read her blog post about it!