Yes. The Hurricane is a sweet, fruit-forward rum cocktail associated with New Orleans, Louisiana. It is commonly made with light and dark rum, passion fruit syrup or purée, citrus juice, and sometimes other fruit juices; it is usually shaken with ice and served over ice in a tall, curving glass.
What a Hurricane Is
The name refers to both a cocktail and the distinctive glass traditionally used to serve it. The glass has a rounded bowl and a narrower stem, a shape said to resemble a hurricane lamp. Today, a Hurricane can also be served in an ordinary tall glass, so the vessel is not what defines the drink.
There is no single formula followed by every bar or home bartender. Recipes vary in the balance of rum, passion fruit, citrus, and sweeteners. Some include orange juice, grenadine, or a splash of simple syrup; others rely on passion fruit syrup for most of their sweetness. The familiar result is a vivid, sweet-tart drink with a noticeable rum base.
New Orleans Origins and the Name
The cocktail is strongly linked with New Orleans and the French Quarter, particularly the bar Pat O’Brien’s. Its widely repeated origin story places its creation in the 1940s, when rum was more readily available than some other spirits and bars used a rum-heavy mixed drink to promote sales. The exact details of the story are not always presented consistently, so it is safest to describe the drink as a New Orleans classic associated with Pat O’Brien’s rather than treat every anecdote as settled fact.
“Hurricane” also describes the glass often used for the cocktail. That connection can cause confusion: the drink does not need to be served in that glass, and a hurricane glass can hold many other drinks. The cocktail’s identity comes from its rum-and-fruit profile, not a particular piece of glassware.
What Goes Into a Hurricane?
Rum and passion fruit are the central flavors. A common modern version combines two rums with passion fruit, lime, and orange juice. The ingredients below make one cocktail; measurements are approximate because recipes differ.
- 1 oz (30 ml) light rum
- 1 oz (30 ml) dark rum
- 1 oz (30 ml) passion fruit syrup or sweetened passion fruit purée
- 1 oz (30 ml) orange juice
- ½ oz (15 ml) fresh lime juice
- ½ oz (15 ml) simple syrup, optional, depending on the sweetness of the passion fruit ingredient
- Ice, for shaking and serving
To make it, add the rums, passion fruit, orange juice, lime juice, and optional syrup to a shaker filled with ice. Shake until well chilled, then strain into an ice-filled hurricane glass or tall glass. Garnish with an orange slice or a maraschino cherry if desired. Since it contains alcohol, it is for adults of legal drinking age only; drink responsibly.
Passion Fruit Syrup, Purée, and Substitutions
Passion fruit syrup is a sweetened ingredient made for drinks, while purée is generally fruit pulp and may be unsweetened. Check the label before mixing: using sweetened syrup and adding extra sugar can make a Hurricane cloying. If using unsweetened purée, you may need a little simple syrup to balance the tartness.
If passion fruit is unavailable, passion fruit nectar can work, though it may be thinner and less intensely flavored. A mix of orange juice and a little lime can make a pleasant fruit cocktail, but it will not taste like a classic passion-fruit Hurricane. For a less sweet drink, reduce the optional syrup and add lime juice a few drops at a time; for a sweeter version, add syrup cautiously and taste as you go.
How It Differs From Other Rum Drinks
A Hurricane is often compared with other tropical rum cocktails, but its defining combination is rum and passion fruit, commonly with citrus and sometimes orange juice. A Daiquiri is usually a simpler mixture of rum, lime, and sugar, without the Hurricane’s fruit-heavy profile. A Mai Tai is also rum-based, but its characteristic ingredients include lime, orange liqueur, and orgeat, an almond-flavored syrup; it is not simply another name for a Hurricane.
Nor is every red or orange drink in a hurricane glass a Hurricane. Color varies with the fruit, syrup, and grenadine used, and some versions are more orange, red, or golden than others. A glass shape or bright color alone cannot identify the recipe.
Sweetness, Strength, and Serving
Hurricanes are generally sweet and can contain a substantial amount of rum, so their fruit flavor may make the alcohol less obvious than it is. The example above contains 2 oz (60 ml) of rum before any dilution from shaking. Actual strength varies with the recipe, the rum’s alcohol content, and how much ice melts into the drink.
Serve it cold over fresh ice. If preparing several drinks, mix the non-ice ingredients in a pitcher and keep them chilled, then shake individual portions with ice shortly before serving. Shaking directly with ice and straining keeps the drink cold while avoiding the watery result that can come from leaving it sitting on ice for a long time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Hurricane a real cocktail?
Yes. It is a recognized rum cocktail associated with New Orleans and commonly made with passion fruit and citrus.
What does a Hurricane taste like?
It is typically sweet, fruity, and tart, with passion fruit and citrus flavors alongside rum. The exact balance depends on the recipe and the sweetness of the fruit ingredients.
Does a Hurricane always contain two kinds of rum?
No. Many familiar recipes combine light and dark rum, but recipes vary, and some use a single rum or different proportions.
Can you make a Hurricane without passion fruit?
You can make a similar fruit-and-rum drink, but without passion fruit it will not have the characteristic flavor of a Hurricane. Orange juice and lime are possible substitutes for a different, less traditional result.
Why is it called a Hurricane?
The cocktail is often served in a glass shaped like a hurricane lamp, and that glass is the most commonly offered explanation for the name. The drink itself is especially associated with New Orleans.
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