The Hurricane | A New Orleans Cocktail Classic

Made with real fruit juices and full of tropical flavor, this homemade Hurricane is a delicious twist on a staple cocktail found throughout the French Quarter of New Orleans.

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Traditionally made with rum and passion fruit syrup, the Hurricane is a staple cocktail in the New Orleans French Quarter. While most versions of the popular drink are sugary sweet and artificial, I’ve made this one using high quality syrups, real fruit juices, and a mixture of two authentic Jamaican rums. The end result is a complex drink that is the perfect balance of tart and sweet flavors for a delightful twist on a cocktail classic.

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A tall glass of pinkish orange liquid filled with ice and topped with a blue umbrella and citrus garnishes.
An overhead view of a Hurricane cocktail, featuring pineapple shaped ice.

A New Orleans Staple

A descendant of the daiquiri (which in turn is a descendant of the sour), the Hurricane is credited to the infamous bar owned by Pat O’Brien in 1940s. According to story, the New Orleans tavern keeper invented the recipe as a means to use up the rum local distributors forced on him with his purchases of the more popular bottles of scotch and whiskey.

Today, the passion fruit cocktail is an essential part of French Quarter cuisine, and you can find a version in almost every bar and in the hands of countless tourists on Bourbon Street. Some versions are sickeningly sweet, but if you’re lucky (or follow this recipe), you might find one made with good rum and fresh juices.

The Cane & Table Restaurant

The true inspiration to make my own version of the Hurricane came from a truly beautiful Tiki Bar I stopped in while visiting New Orleans.

A professionally made Hurricane cocktail paired with the menu from Cane & Table.

In contrast with the dark, kitschy atmosphere carried by most bars of its type, Cane & Table is bright, refined, and meticulously curated to resemble a tropical island getaway somewhere in the Caribbean. The tropical-inspired food looked delicious, but as this was one of many stops that morning in New Orleans, I refrained myself to a single drink – the Hurricane & Table. My bartender artfully mixed the all-natural ingredients in front of me at the bar, topping the glass with an all too traditional umbrella. One sip and I was in love.


This Hurricane cocktail is an homage to those that came before it, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

The Hurricane Cocktail

Rediscover a classic New Orleans cocktail with this delicious homemade Hurricane, full of real fruit juices, Jamaican rum, and terrific tropical flavors.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American, Creole
Servings 1 drink

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ounces passion fruit syrup
  • 1 ounce lime juice
  • 2 ounces Appleton Estate Signature Blend Aged Rum
  • 1 ounce Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum
  • 1 ounce authentic grenadine (see notes)
  • 1 ounce blood orange juice
  • Dash of Angostura bitters

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake until well-chilled. Strain into a tall glass filled with ice and enjoy!

Notes

Homemade Grenadine: You can buy real grenadine at the store or online, or you can make it at home in the same amount of time it takes to make your own simple syrup from scratch. Just combine ¼ cup sugar with 1 cup unsweetened pomegranate juice in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Let it reduce for 5 minutes, add a squeeze of lemon juice (about 1 tablespoon), and funnel into a bottle once cooled. It should last you 3-4 weeks in the fridge.
Keyword cocktail, french quarter, hurricane, new orleans, passion fruit, rum
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