“Laissez les bons temps rouler!” Let the good times roll! That sentence sums up Mardi Gras, which is celebrated in cities around the world and culminates on Fat Tuesday, the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday which ushers in Lent.
New Orleans, of course, is the most famous city for its Mardi Gras celebrations, but Mardi Gras actually began in Mobile, Alabama. Just a few of the many other cities which celebrate Mardi Gras include Pensacola, FL, Baton Rouge, LA, Binche, Belgium, Quebec City, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, and Nice, France.
But back to the business at hand, which is telling you about New Orleans’ most famous cocktail and a favorite of party-goers celebrating Mardi Gras: the Hurricane! 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 filled with rum and fruit juices and is really very easy to make.
Hurricane Cocktails were first created at the legendary Pat O’ Brien’s Bar in New Orleans in the 1940’s 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.
Looking for Mardi Gras themed recipes to serve with your Hurricanes? Check out this post: Ten Classic Mardi Gras Recipes.
Now there are probably as many versions of Hurricanes as there are Mardi Gras celebrations but the original Hurricanes were made with only three ingredients: gold rum, lemon juice, and passion fruit juice or syrup. That’s it! These days when you order a Hurricane, you are likely to get many different takes on this popular cocktail. My easy recipe for Hurricane Cocktails is another slightly different variation because in addition to gold rum and passion fruit juice I added grenadine, orange juice, lime juice, and simple syrup. But no matter which variation you try, all are refreshing and delicious! But don’t let that sweet fruity taste lull you into a false sense of security because Hurricanes can pack a potent punch!
If you are ready to sample this delicious cocktail, add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker along with some crushed ice and shake well. That’s it!
Pour into a glass and garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.
This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to make as much as you need.
Easy Hurricane Cocktail 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.
What a flavorful and refreshing cocktail!
Its almost Mardi Gras time! Excited to try this!
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