08/27/2026
Everyone has their favorite Gold Mine Story. Come tell us yours!
This will be an epic party, Friday & Saturday at Gold Mine.
Friday, August 28, 2026
Saturday, August 29, 2026
******2pm TiL Late******
Celebrating 40 years of Amazing Times in the Land of the Flaming Doctor Peppers!
Your epic company is expressly requested!
IYKYK 40 years ago (1986 - 2026), The Flaming Doctor Pepper Shot was invented at Gold Mine Saloon by David Brinks.
Foundational Roots & Family LegacyThe Gold Mine Saloon has been a family-owned staple of the French Quarter since it was officially established in 1983.
Before transforming into the current saloon, the corner building at 701 Dauphine Street operated as a historic jazz club.
It has been run for decades by Barbara Bear and her son, Dave Brinks, preserving a distinctly local, unpolished charm that stands in stark contrast to the commercialized corporate bars on nearby Bourbon Street.🔥
The Creation of the Flaming Dr. Pepper ShotIn 1986, co-owner Dave Brinks invented the bar's most enduring claim to fame: the Flaming Dr. Pepper shot.
The Recipe: The shot features amaretto topped with high-proof grain alcohol, ignited with a flame, and then dropped directly into a glass of beer.
The Myth: Despite the name and a flavor that tastes exactly like the iconic soda pop, the cocktail contains no actual Dr. Pepper soda.
The Impact: The explosive popularity of the drink famously saved the bar from financial ruin during economic downtrends in the 1980s.
The establishment has served nearly one million of these signature shots.
🎨 An Avant-Garde Arts and Literary HubBeyond its reputation as a late-night dance spot with classic 1980s arcade cabinets, the Gold Mine Saloon serves as a crucial sanctuary for New Orleans' underground literary scene
Creative Crowd: The bar has long attracted an avant-garde crowd of local poets, painters, musicians, and eccentrics.
17 Poets Series: It is the official home of the 17 Poets Literary and Performance Series, hosting weekly poetry readings, book launches, and spoken-word events.
Post-Katrina Voice: Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, operator Dave Brinks composed The Caveat Onus, a critically acclaimed poem cycle heavily tied to the survival and resilient spirit of the bar and its French Quarter community.
