Jean Lafitte’s Old Absinthe House
Royal Tours New Orleans • March 8, 2018
Jean Lafitte’s Old Absinthe House
The Old Absinthe House was originally built in 1807 to house an importing firm before expanding to include a saloon that boasted fine French Absinthes. It is the first bar to introduce Absinthe dripping fountains in the United States. But, it was also crucial to winning the final battle of the War of 1812.
Numerous legends surround the Old Absinthe Bar on Bourbon Street. It is said that during prohibition the proprietors had to move the business overnight, including the bar, when rumors spread that people in favor of the law banning the public sale of alcohol had plans to destroy it. However, the most famous legend of the Old Absinthe House involves a pirate, a President, and a round of drinks.
Legend has it that the Barataria pirate Jean Lafitte met with General Andrew Jackson over drinks at the Old Absinthe House to discuss the upcoming defense of New Orleans against the British in the battle known today as the Battle of New Orleans. Jackson agreed to pardon the pirate’s past offenses, along with those of his men, in exchange for fighting on behalf of the city. As it turns out, Lafitte and his group from the Barataria Bay knew the surrounding swamps like few others and were indispensable in defending New Orleans against the British attack. They fought honorably alongside American troops and together they defended the city from the approaching British troops.
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Absinthe has historically been a drink of choice for writers around the world which led a large number of American writers through the doors of the Old Absinthe House including Mark Twain and Walt Whitman. Aleister Crowley was quite fond of the place, remarking on its significance to the “spirit” of New Orleans: “Art is the soul of life and the Old Absinthe House is heart and soul of the old quarter of New Orleans.”
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N orma Wallace, a name that evokes intrigue and fascination, was a prominent figure in New Orleans during the early and mid-20th century. As a powerful and resourceful madam, she operated a network of brothels that thrived despite the constant threat of law enforcement. Beginning in 1920, she would operate brothels for the next 45 years, a span that has not been beaten in the history of New Orleans.
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