If you're looking for a tart, bold, and tropical Rum cocktail, the Hurricane cocktail is a fantastic option.
The different types of Rum used in the drink certainly pack a punch. And if you combine them with fresh lime and fresh passion fruit juices, you'll get a perfect summer cocktail.
The Hurricane is one of the few cocktails with its own signature glass named after them.
The roots of this boozy drink lie in New Orleans, Louisiana. Invented at Pat O'Brien's bar, the Hurricane quickly became a crowd-pleaser.
And even today, the Hurricane is a popular drink to order when visiting New Orleans French Quarter.
How to Make a Hurricane
The cocktail is boozy with a bold and complex taste. Yet, the Hurricane is not that hard to make.
It consists of at least two different types of Rum - white and dark Rum. Further, some recipe variations include a splash of overproof Rum to give the drink an additional kick.
This strongly alcoholic base has to be counterbalanced. In most recipes, this lime juice, passionfruit juice, and simple syrup take care of that.
However, often, you'll see bottled juices used to mix this drink.
Try to avoid that and use fresh limes and passion fruits instead. Their intense and crisp taste is essential for balancing the cocktail, and bottled mixers won't achieve the same results.
On top, you can use additional ingredients like fresh orange juice, fresh pineapple juice, and just a bit of Grenadine.
That makes for even more complexity and fruity flavors. Garnished with a slice of orange and a luscious Maraschino cherry, your Hurricane is ready to be served.
History of the Hurricane Cocktail
The Hurricane cocktail was invented by Pat O'Brien -the owner and manager of the namesake bar in the heart of New Orleans French Quarter.
In the early days of the place -during prohibition- it was a traditional speakeasy bar. And the name was a bit different:
To get access to Mr. O'Brien's Club Tipperary, you needed to know the secret passphrase Storm's brewin'.
The story of the Hurricane has become a bit of an urban legend.
And as this legend has it, Pat O'Brien had to get rid of an excessive amount of low-quality local Rum. He started mixing a potent Rum cocktail, masking the alcohol notes with syrup and fresh fruit juices.
O'Brien gave the first concoctions to sailors, and surprisingly, it was a huge hit. And ever since then, the Hurricane cocktail has been one of the most popular drinks from New Orleans.
The drink even has a distinctive and iconic glass design. The Hurricane glass resembles the shape of a hurricane lamp and usually can hold about 20oz.
It became so successful that, these days, it's one of the most familiar cocktail glass designs. And when visiting Pat O'Briens, you can order a Hurricane and keep the glass as a souvenir.
Taste of a Hurricane
The taste of the Hurricane cocktail is sweet, strong, tropical, and tart. Everything you want from a tropical Tiki-style cocktail.
The tartness of fresh lime and passion fruits goes perfectly with the sweetness of syrup and Grenadine.
The high amount of Rum used to make the cocktail definitely is softened but still present in the flavor profile. If you're looking for a tropical and easy-to-drink cocktail, the Hurricane would be on the top of your list.
Other Tropical Cocktails
If you like the fruity taste and the booziness of Tiki Cocktails, how about the Zombie? It is one of the most iconic representatives of this category and truly packs a punch.
Other favorites are the Painkiller Cocktail, a fruity twist on the classic Piña Colada, or the Planter's Punch.
If you like a bit of spicy ginger in your cocktails, the Dark'n'Stormy is another great option.
Equipment
- 1 Jigger
- 1 Cocktail Shaker
- 1 Hawthorne Strainer
Ingredients
- 2 oz White Rum
- 2 oz Dark Rum
- 0.5 oz Overproof Rum
- 1 oz Fresh lime juice
- 0.5 oz Fresh orange juice
- 0.5 oz Fresh pineapple juice
- 0.5 oz Fresh passion fruit juice/puree
- 0.5 oz Simple syrup
- 1 bsp Grenadine
Instructions
- Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice.
- Shake until the cocktail is well-chilled.
- Strain into an ice-filled Hurricane glass and garnish with a slice of orange and a Maraschino cherry.
It tastes delicious!