Don’t let the delicious sweet fruity taste of Hurricane cocktails lull you into a false sense of security because, like their namesake, these drinks pack a potent punch!
There are probably as many versions of hurricane cocktails as there are Mardi Gras celebrations. But the original hurricane cocktail recipes were made with only three ingredients: gold rum, lemon juice, and passion fruit syrup.
What is New Orleans’s most popular drink?
Hurricanes are New Orleans’ most famous cocktail and a favorite of party-goers celebrating Mardi Gras in the French Quarter. And no, I’m not talking about the windy weather phenomenon that periodically sweeps through the Gulf Coast.
I’m talking about a delicious and fun drink, the Hurricane Cocktail, which is full of rum and fruit juices.
What is a hurricane drink?
Hurricane Cocktails were first created at the legendary Pat O’ Brien’s Bar in New Orleans in the 1940s as a creative way of utilizing large stocks of rum.
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 is what you will need for this recipe:
This easy drink recipe is a slightly different variation of the original because, in addition to gold rum and passion fruit juice, I add grenadine, orange juice, lime juice, and simple syrup.
You will also need a cocktail shaker with ice and maraschino cherries for an optional garnish.
Some recipes call for dark rum and light rum. Dark rum has just been aged longer, but to keep things simple, we are sticking with just gold rum in this recipe.
How do you make a hurricane drink from scratch?
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker along with some crushed ice and shake well.
Pour into a glass and garnish with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry.
This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to make as much as you need.
Variations:
Feel free to get creative and make your own Hurricane Cocktail! 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 or make it a frozen cocktail by adding ice to it and blending it in a blender.
More Mardi Gras recipes:
Other traditional recipes 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 cocktail recipes:
If you like this recipe, 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 recipe, please consider rating it and leaving a comment. I’d love to know how you liked it!
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Hurricane Drink Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 oz light rum
- 2 oz dark or gold rum
- 2 oz passion fruit juice or syrup
- 1 oz orange juice
- 1/2 oz fresh lime juice
- 1 Tbsp simple syrup
- 1 Tbsp grenadine
- Optional, sliced orange and cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a shaker and fill with crushed ice.
- Strain and pour into a glass.
- Add an orange slice and a cherry for garnish.
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Its almost Mardi Gras time! Excited to try this!
What a flavorful and refreshing cocktail!