The Recipe for Happiness

Yes, we found the recipe for happiness. Is it any surprise that this particular recipe was created in New Orleans? And in the most unlikely place--Tropical Isle.

We were giving my brother B a tour through the Quarter and dared him to try the signature Tropical Isle drink. You’ve probably heard of famous Crescent City drinks such as the Hurricane and perhaps even the Sazerac, but the Hand Grenade is really the quintessential French Quarter drink.

B was game to try the concoction and ordered a large. He asked what was in it, and the bartender tiredly told him, “Happiness.”

B takes up the challenge to drink a Hand Grenade.

It all depends on your definition of happiness, I suppose. The Hand Grenade was a citrusy, overly sweet concoction. After we all tasted it, we guessed that the ingredients included Red Bull, Mountain Dew, and grain alcohol. But what makes the Hand Grenade the ideal Bourbon Street drink is its brilliant design—easy to carry, hard to spill, impossible to break. A smaller version would make a great sippy cup.

Real Hand Grenade next to graffiti hand grenade.

One of the patrons of Tropical Isle commented to B, “That drink will make you lose all your ambition.” We weren’t sure if she meant “inhibitions” or maybe even both.

No inhibitions or ambition. A very New Orleans definition of happiness.