Hurricane Cocktail

Try the fruity Hurricane drink, a cocktail born in New Orleans! Here are the ingredients to make this NOLA special recipe.

It’s fruity, it’s extra boozy, and it’s 100% fun: meet this Hurricane cocktail recipe! This New Orleans special is a bit of a splurge: and that’s exactly what it’s intended for. Loaded with two types of rum, it’s got a tropical nuance from passion fruit. A hint of grenadine gives it extra sweetness and a rosy-golden color. It’s a unique rum cocktail that’s festive and fun. This one’s a bit stronger than most cocktails, so buckle up and get ready for a potent drink!

Hurricane cocktail ingredients

The Hurricane drink is a classic New Orleans cocktail from the 1940’s made with light and dark rum, passion fruit syrup, orange juice, lime juice, and grenadine. The drink was invented by Pat O’Brien, owner of the popular Pat O’Brien’s bar in New Orleans. Apparently Pat created the drink to use up a surplus of rum and served it in a glass shaped like a hurricane lamp. It was an instant hit, and remains a classic to this day.

The Hurricane is a relative of the classic daiquiri, but the fruity mix is also reminiscent of the classic 1920’s Singapore Sling. Here are the Hurricane cocktail ingredients you’ll need to whip up this NOLA special:

• Dark rum
• Light rum
• Orange juice
• Lime juice
• Passion fruit syrup
• Grenadine

Let’s talk through some of the more unique ingredients, shall we?

What is passion fruit syrup?

The most unique ingredient for this Hurricane cocktail recipe is passion fruit syrup. Some versions of the cocktail use passion fruit juice, but it’s very hard to find! It was easier for us to find passion fruit syrup for this drink. Here’s what to know:

• Passion fruit syrup is a syrup made from passion fruit pulp and sugar. While you can make your own at home, it’s easy to find passion fruit syrup online.
• What does it taste like? It tastes tropical, sweet tart and fruity. There’s really nothing like it!
• What is a substitute for passion fruit syrup? Passion fruit has such a unique flavor that there’s really no substitute. If you want to make a Hurricane cocktail, you have to make it right! Passion fruit is required for that signature flavor. Trust us!
• Where to buy passion fruit syrup? We bought this Monin Passion Fruit Syrup online. You could also look at your local liquor store.
• What other drinks use passion fruit syrup? Try the Zombie.

Two types of rum are required

You’ll need two types of rum to make the Hurricane drink! Keep in mind: this cocktail has more alcohol than most of our other 200+ cocktails. It’s based on the classic daiquiri, but it has more than double the rum (4 ounces in the Hurricane vs 1 ½ ounces in the daiquiri). So beware when you take a sip! Here’s why you need each type of rum:

• Dark rum is aged longer than white rum. It has a dark color and a rich, developed flavor with caramel, brown sugar, and vanilla notes.
• Light rum or white rum is clear and has a smoother, sweeter flavor and is used in straightforward tropical drinks like the mojito, daiquiri and piña colada.

Should the Hurricane drink be bright red?

The Hurricane cocktail also calls for grenadine, a right red syrup that brings beautiful bright red color to drinks. You’ll notice that some versions of the Hurricane look rosy orange (like you see here), whereas others are bright red. What color should the drink be?

• Grenadine is often mistaken for cherry syrup, but it’s actually made from pomegranate juice. It has a fruity and sweet flavor, and adds a bright red color to every drink it touches. Traditionally grenadine is made with artificial colors and flavors, but these days there are all-natural versions on the market.
• The type and amount of grenadine affects the drink color. You can make grenadine syrup at home, which is our preference since it’s more natural. But here’s the thing: the synthetic version of grenadine will make a brighter red color. Some Hurricane cocktail recipes use even more grenadine to get a super bright red color. The original drink was most likely this orange-y hue, especially due to the passion fruit syrup.

How to make this Hurricane cocktail recipe: shake and strain!

Once you’ve got your hands on passion fruit syrup, your two types of rum and grenadine, making the Hurricane cocktail is a breeze! It’s a traditional “shaken” cocktail where you shake ingredients in a cocktail shaker, then strain:

• Shake: Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Fill it with a few handfuls of ice and then shake until very cold. Don’t have a cocktail shaker? Use a mason jar with a cover instead.
• Strain: Strain the drink into a hurricane glass if you have one: or any cocktail glass will do. Don’t have a cocktail strainer? Use a fine mesh strainer instead.
• Garnish: Add a cocktail cherry and an orange slice for the classic look.

When to serve a Hurricane drink

The Hurricane cocktail is a stunning New Orleans drink you can use to impress! It’s perfect for sipping as a:

• Signature drink
• Happy hour drink
• Dinner party drink
• Late night drinks drink
• Guys or girls night drink
• Cocktail hour drink

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More rum cocktails

Got rum to use up? We’ve got cocktails! Here are a few more rum cocktails to try:

• Whip up a fruity and tropical Pineapple Rum Cocktail or Painkiller
• Sip on vibrant Rum and Cranberry Juice
• Try the boozy Cuban cocktail, El Presidente
• Opt for easy 2-ingredient Dark and Stormy
• Try the subtly bitter and tropical Jungle Bird
• Go retro 1990’s with a Strawberry Daiquiri or Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri