Hurricanes are arguably New Orleans’ most famous cocktail. This iconic rum drink made with tropical fruit juices has long been a favorite of party-goers visiting or celebrating Mardi Gras.

But don’t make the mistake of letting the sweet fruity taste of a classic Hurricane cocktail lull you into a false sense of security. Like its namesake, the windy weather phenomenon that periodically sweeps through the Gulf Coast, these delicious drinks pack a potent punch!

What is it?

Hurricane cocktails were first created at the legendary Pat O’Brien’s Bar in New Orleans in the 1940s as a creative way to utilize large stocks of rum. The original hurricane drink recipe was made with only three ingredients: gold rum, lemon juice, and passion fruit syrup.

Legend has it that the Hurricane got its name because the cocktail was first served in the glass piece of a hurricane lamp. And, as they say, the rest is history.

Here’s what you will need for this recipe:

Light and dark rum: unlike many other types of alcohol, are distilled from sugarcane instead of grains, which imparts a sweet taste.

Passion fruit juice: a distinctive ingredient in Hurricanes, has a sweet yet slightly tart tropical fruit taste.

Orange and lime juice: add a citrusy element to this delicious cocktail.

Grenadine: is a non-alcoholic ingredient and adds a sweet/tart flavor and a reddish color to the drink. It is often made with pomegranate juice.

Simple syrup: is a mixture of equal parts of granulated sugar and water that has been heated until the sugar is dissolved.

To garnish your drinks, you will need maraschino cherries and orange slices.

Additionally, you will need a cocktail shaker, ice, and a glass jigger with fill lines.

Here’s how to make it:

First, fill the cocktail shaker halfway with ice, then add the rum and passion fruit juice.
Then add the orange juice, grenadine, simple syrup, and lime juice.
Put the top on, hold the shaker with both hands (one on each piece) and shake vigorously.
Shake until the outside of the shaker frosts up (about 15 shakes) and then strain the cocktail into a glass.
Garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherries and serve immediately.

What’s the difference between white and gold rum?

While both are made from sugarcane, white rum has typically aged a year or less in white oak barrels, while dark rum is aged longer in regular oak barrels. Dark rum also has a slightly bolder flavor.

Passion fruit juice:

While all of the ingredients in this recipe can easily be found in most grocery stores, passion fruit juice is harder to find. If you can’t find it, passion fruit syrup, which can be found in many liquor stores or ordered online, can be substituted. But it is very sweet, so do not add the simple syrup.

You can also substitute passion fruit-flavored juice cocktail, which can be found in many grocery stores. If you use passion fruit juice, it is much tarter than either of the other options, so make the recipe as directed.

How to serve a crowd:

This Hurricane cocktail recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to make a pitcher or as much as you need. This recipe makes one eight-ounce serving. Use the slider in the recipe to easily change the amounts needed of each ingredient if you would like to serve more folks.

Variations:

Feel free to get creative and make your own Hurricane cocktail recipe! Try substituting pomegranate, pineapple, or orange juice for the passion fruit juice. Or, add a little of any of them for additional flavor.

You could also substitute a flavored rum, tequila, or vodka, or make it a frozen cocktail by adding ice and blending it in a blender.

Sharon’s tips:

Use a jigger with ounce measurements or fill lines to measure the ingredients for this drink easily.

To make your own simple syrup, add equal parts of sugar and water to a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Let cool and store any leftovers in the refrigerator.

More Mardi Gras dishes:

Other traditional Mardi Gras dishes on my blog include Easy Mardi Gras Hot Muffaletta Dip, Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya, Classic Cajun Dirty Rice with Sausage, Creamy Shrimp Creole, Mardi Gras Snack Mix, and Old Fashioned Pecan Pralines.

Need more ideas, check out my roundup post: Ten + Classic Mardi Gras Recipes and Menu Ideas.

You can see all of my Mardi Gras related posts here.

More cocktails:

If you like this cocktail, you might also want to check out my recipes for Frozen Limeade Margaritas, Frozen Cranberry Margaritas, and my Meyer Lemon French 75. You can see all of my cocktail recipes here.

★ If you make this drink, please consider rating it and leaving a comment. I’d love to know how you liked it!

Thank you so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones; I hope you’ll come back soon!

📋 Recipe:

Twoo hurricane cocktails with Mardi Gras beads.

Easy Hurricane Drink Recipe

Sharon Rigsby

The Hurricane is New Orleans’ most famous cocktail and a favorite of party-goers celebrating Mardi Gras! It's a delicious drink filled with fruit juice and rum.

4.34 from 9 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 3

Total Time 3

Course Cocktails

Cuisine American, Southern

Servings serving

Calories 391 kcal

Ingredients

▢ 2 ounces white rum
▢ 2 ounces dark or gold rum
▢ 2 ounces passion fruit juice
▢ 1 ounce orange juice
▢ ½ ounce fresh lime juice
▢ 1 tablespoon simple syrup
▢ 1 tablespoon grenadine
▢ Optional, sliced oranges and cherries for garnish

Instructions

Fill the cocktail shaker halfway with ice first, then add the rest of the ingredients.
Hold the shaker with both hands (one on each piece) and shake vigorously. Shake until the outside of the shaker frosts up, and then strain the cocktail into a glass.
Garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherries and serve immediately.

Notes

While all of the ingredients in this recipe can easily be found in most grocery stores, passion fruit juice is harder to find. If you can't find it, passion fruit syrup, which can be found in many liquor stores or ordered online, can be substituted. But it is very sweet, so do not add the simple syrup.

You can also substitute passion fruit-flavored juice drink or cocktail, which can be found in many grocery stores.

This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to make a pitcher or as much as you need. This recipe makes one eight-ounce serving. Use the slider in the recipe to easily change the amounts needed of each ingredient if you would like to serve more folks.