The Hurricane cocktail is a popular drink that has been enjoyed for decades. It’s a sweet and tropical concoction that is often served in a distinctive curved glass called a hurricane glass. The drink’s origins can be traced back to the 1940s in New Orleans, where it was first created by a legendary bar owner named Pat O’Brien.

Pat O’Brien’s was a popular bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans. During the 1940s, it was known for its specialty drinks, and one of its most popular was the Hurricane. It was a sweet and fruity drink that was served in a tall, curvy glass, which resembled a hurricane lamp. The drink quickly gained popularity, and soon became a staple of New Orleans’ cocktail culture.

The Hurricane got its name from the shape of the glass it was served in. However, the story behind the name is a bit more complex. In the early 1940s, World War II was raging, and the United States was rationing various goods, including whiskey. To get around the whiskey shortage, Pat O’Brien started mixing large batches of rum with fruit juice and other ingredients. He poured the mixture into hurricane lamp-shaped glasses, which were plentiful and cheap. The drink became so popular that it was soon dubbed the Hurricane, after the glass it was served in.

The original recipe for the Hurricane called for a blend of dark and light rum, passion fruit juice, lime juice, and simple syrup. Over time, other ingredients like orange juice and grenadine were added to the mix. Some versions even included a splash of bitters. The end result was a sweet and potent cocktail that was perfect for sipping on a hot day in New Orleans.

While the Hurricane is now enjoyed around the world, it remains an iconic symbol of New Orleans’ cocktail culture. It’s a drink that is often associated with Mardi Gras and other celebrations, and it has become a must-try for anyone visiting the city. Many bars in New Orleans still serve the Hurricane in the same distinctive glass, and some even offer their own unique twists on the classic recipe.

If you’re looking to try a traditional Hurricane cocktail, it’s easy to make at home. All you need is a few simple ingredients like rum, fruit juice, and grenadine, and you can mix up your own version of this classic drink. Whether you’re sipping one in a bar in New Orleans or making one at home, the Hurricane is a delicious and refreshing cocktail that is sure to transport you to a tropical paradise.

Tips & Tricks

1. Use quality ingredients: Since the Hurricane is a relatively simple cocktail, the quality of the ingredients you use can make a big difference. Use high-quality rum, fresh-squeezed juice, and pure grenadine to ensure the best possible taste.
2. Balance sweetness and tartness: The Hurricane is a sweet cocktail, but it’s important to balance the sweetness with some tartness from the lime and orange juice. Adjust the ratios of these ingredients to suit your taste preferences.
3. Chill your glassware: For the best presentation, chill your hurricane glass in the freezer before serving. This will help keep your drink cool for longer and create a nice frosty effect on the glass.
4. Use crushed ice: The Hurricane is traditionally served over crushed ice, which helps to dilute the drink and balance out the sweetness. If you don’t have a blender or ice crusher, you can put ice cubes in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
5. Shake well: To ensure that all the ingredients are well combined and the flavors are evenly distributed, shake your cocktail shaker vigorously for at least 15-20 seconds. This will also help to create a nice frothy texture.
6. Garnish creatively: While the classic Hurricane garnish is an orange slice and cherry, feel free to get creative with your garnish. Pineapple chunks, mint leaves, and even a small umbrella can all make for a fun and festive presentation.

Glassware

The traditional Hurricane cocktail is typically served in a tall, curvy glass also called a hurricane glass. The glass is designed to mimic the shape of a hurricane lamp, which is where the cocktail gets its name from.

The hurricane glass is typically made of glass and has a stem at the bottom that widens out into a bulbous shape towards the top, then narrows back down into a smaller opening. This shape allows for plenty of crushed ice and multiple ingredients to fit into the glass, while also giving the cocktail a fun and festive presentation.

When serving a Traditional Hurricane, it’s important to use a hurricane glass, as this will allow you to create the proper look and feel of the cocktail. If you don’t have a hurricane glass, you can use a tall, narrow glass like a Collins glass or a highball glass, but the presentation won’t be quite the same.

Overall, the hurricane glass is an important part of the Hurricane cocktail experience, and using the right glassware can enhance the overall enjoyment of the drink.

The Hurricane

The Hurricane

Print Recipe

 It's a sweet and tropical concoction that isoften served in a distinctive curved glass called a hurricane glass.

Course Drinks

Cuisine Cocktail, New Orleans

Keyword Rum

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Servings 1

Calories 500

Ingredients

• 2 oz dark rum
• 2 oz light rum
• 1 oz lime juice
• 1 oz orange juice
• 2 oz passion fruit juice
• 1 tbsp simple syrup
• 1 tbsp grenadine
• Ice
• Orange slice and cherry for garnish

Instructions

• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Add the dark rum, light rum, lime juice, orange juice, passion fruit juice, simple syrup, and grenadine.
• Shake well until the outside of the shaker becomes frosty.
• Strain the mixture into a hurricane glass filled with crushed ice.
• Garnish with an orange slice and cherry on top.
• Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Some variations of the recipe may call for additional ingredients like pineapple juice or bitters.