How to Make a New Orleans-Style Hurricane Cocktail
Updated: Feb. 03, 2021Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links.
Happy Mardi Gras! You can celebrate in style with the iconic and fruity Hurricane drink.
It’s time to celebrate Mardi Gras! It’s French for “Fat Tuesday,” a day when people eat and drink in excess before the fasting for Lent begins. New Orleans is famous for its massive Mardi Gras carnival. The most legendary cocktail at the NOLA celebration is easily the Hurricane drink.
Want to bring the spirit of the Big Easy to your kitchen? Indulge in our best Fat Tuesday recipes!
The Story of the Hurricane Drink
The very first Hurricane was concocted at Pat O’Brien’s in New Orleans in the 1940s. Due to a scotch shortage in America during World War II, bar owners purchased rum to compensate. The bartenders at Pat O’Brien’s invented the fruity drink and mixed them in bulk in an attempt to reduce their overwhelming surplus of rum. It turns out, patrons couldn’t get enough of the cocktail!
The fruity elixir was eventually served in a hurricane glass, and the name stuck. It’s easy to make a Hurricane at home, too.
What You’ll Need
- 2 oz. light rum
- 2 oz. dark rum
- 2 oz. passion fruit juice
- 1 oz. orange juice
- 1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon simple syrup
- 1 tablespoon grenadine
- Orange slice and cherry, for garnish
Note: You can buy passion fruit juice or purée in the beverage aisle of many grocery stores, or you can find it on Amazon.
Step 1: Shake It Up
Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
Step 2: Pour It Out
Strain into a hurricane glass filled with ice.
Step 3: Top It Off
Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice. À votre santé! (Cheers!)
Do I Need a Hurricane Glass?
The Hurricane can be enjoyed in pretty much any type of glass, but it is traditionally served in a tall, curvy “hurricane glass.” They can be purchased at many home goods stores or you can buy a set on Amazon.
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Originally Published: March 04, 2019
