You don't have to be a gourmet or mixologist to enjoy this made-from-scratch museum, which celebrates Southern cooking and cocktails with exhibits sourced from every state south of the Mason-Dixon. The well-stocked Museum of the American Cocktail displays old elixir bottles, cocktail-making tools, tiki glasses and a picture of an impressively mustachioed bartender. In the back corner, the La Galerie Absinthe recreates the 1895 Old Absinthe House, with artifacts spotlighting the mysterious spirit. Check the website for details about cooking classes in the demo kitchen.
In 2014 the museum moved to the former Dryades Market, which was built in 1849. The market was part of a bustling commercial hub catering to African Americans, and Jewish, German and Italian immigrants.
The attached pan-Southern restaurant, Purloo , plans to offer made-to-order food to visitors, who may want to sample regional specialties as they explore the museum.
