Episode 41: A Drink with Count Charming – Arnaud's Special Cocktail

Episode #41 takes us once again to New Orleans to sit down with a lesser known yet still classic cocktail, the Arnaud’s Special. In 1918 a French wine merchant, Arnaud Cazanave, moved to New Orleans to open a restaurant, aptly named Arnaud’s, and live the American dream.  Unfortunately, in the next year Prohibition threatened to end that dream.  With everything on the line, Arnaud basically ignored the law and continued serving alcohol at his establishment in secret rooms or in coffee cups.  He was eventually found out and imprisoned, but as a popular citizen of the city and a little of his famous entrepreneurial charm he had the charges dismissed.  At this point he acquired the unofficial title of Count.  He gives us a pretty comprehensive understanding of Mr. Cazanave and his role in building the French Quarter of New Orleans.  He was pretty much the king of the town, owning blocks of the city and transforming them into restaurants and lounges; he made the French Quarter what it is. Unfortunately, Jay ...