The Bacardi Hurricane is a sweet, tropical rum cocktail built on dark rum, passion fruit, and citrus, served over crushed ice in a tall curved glass that gives the drink its name. It balances tart lime and orange with rich syrup and a dark rum backbone, making it a refreshing but substantial tiki-style drink you can assemble in minutes. This version uses common supermarket ingredients and a simple shake method, so you get a bar-quality result without a blender or specialty syrups.
Ingredients
- 2 oz (60 ml) dark rum (such as Bacardi Select or Myers’s)
- 1 oz (30 ml) light rum (such as Bacardi Superior)
- 1 oz (30 ml) passion fruit syrup (or 2 oz / 60 ml passion fruit juice plus ½ oz / 15 ml simple syrup)
- 1 oz (30 ml) fresh orange juice
- ½ oz (15 ml) fresh lime juice
- ½ oz (15 ml) simple syrup (adjust to taste)
- 1 dash Angostura bitters (optional)
- Crushed ice
- Orange slice and maraschino cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a hurricane glass or tall highball glass completely with crushed ice. Set it aside while you mix the drink.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the dark rum, light rum, passion fruit syrup, orange juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and bitters if using.
- Fill the shaker halfway with ice cubes. Cover and shake vigorously for 12–15 seconds, until the outside of the shaker feels frosty.
- Strain the mixture into the prepared glass filled with crushed ice. The drink should fill the glass almost to the rim.
- Garnish with a fresh orange slice and a maraschino cherry on a cocktail pick. Serve immediately with a straw.
Tips
- Use fresh citrus: Bottled lime and orange juice will make the drink taste flat and overly sweet. Squeeze the citrus just before shaking for the brightest flavor.
- Adjust sweetness to your rum: Dark rums vary in sweetness. If your rum is already sweet (like many spiced or aged rums), reduce the simple syrup to ¼ oz (7 ml) and taste before adding more.
- Passion fruit substitute: If you can’t find passion fruit syrup, use 2 oz (60 ml) passion fruit juice (often sold in cans or bottles) and skip the simple syrup, or use 1 oz (30 ml) mango nectar plus ½ oz (15 ml) lime juice for a similar tropical tang.
- Don’t skip the shake: Shaking with ice not only chills the drink but also dilutes it slightly, which mellows the sweetness and brings the flavors together. Shaking for less than 10 seconds will leave the drink too strong and syrupy.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the hurricane immediately after mixing, while the crushed ice is still fluffy. It pairs well with salty snacks like plantain chips, coconut shrimp, or grilled jerk chicken, as the sweetness contrasts with spicy and savory food. For a party, you can pre-mix the rum, juices, and syrup in a pitcher (without ice) and shake individual portions as needed, or pour the batch over a large ice block in a punch bowl for casual self-service.
Variations
- Frozen Hurricane: Blend all ingredients with 1 cup (150 g) crushed ice until smooth, then pour into the glass. This makes a thicker, slushier drink—add ½ oz (15 ml) more orange juice if it’s too thick.
- Passion Fruit Punch: Replace the orange juice with pineapple juice and add ½ oz (15 ml) grenadine for a deeper red color and a more tropical, less tart flavor.
- Spiced Hurricane: Swap the dark rum for a spiced rum (like Captain Morgan) and reduce the simple syrup to ¼ oz (7 ml). The spice notes will complement the passion fruit and lime.
- Non-Alcoholic Hurricane: Omit both rums and increase the passion fruit juice to 3 oz (90 ml) and orange juice to 2 oz (60 ml), then add ½ oz (15 ml) lime juice and ½ oz (15 ml) simple syrup. Shake with ice and serve the same way.
Storage and Reheating
This cocktail is best made fresh, as the crushed ice melts and dilutes the drink within 15–20 minutes. If you have leftover mixed liquid (without ice), store it in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours; shake it well before serving over fresh ice. Do not freeze the mixed drink, as the citrus and syrup will separate and the texture will change. There is no reheating step—this is a cold drink meant to be consumed immediately after shaking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use only one type of rum?
Yes. Use 3 oz (90 ml) of a single dark or aged rum if you don’t have both. The flavor will be slightly less complex, but the drink will still taste good. If you only have light rum, add ½ oz (15 ml) of molasses or a teaspoon of brown sugar to mimic the depth of dark rum.
What is passion fruit syrup and where do I find it?
Passion fruit syrup is a sweetened concentrate made from passion fruit pulp and sugar, often sold near cocktail mixers or in the international aisle. You can also order it online. If unavailable, use passion fruit juice and add extra simple syrup to match the sweetness.
Why is my hurricane too sweet?
This usually happens when the rum is sweet, the citrus is bottled, or the syrup amount is too high. Taste before shaking and reduce the simple syrup to ¼ oz (7 ml), or add an extra ½ oz (15 ml) of lime juice to balance the sugar.
Can I make a big batch for a party?
Yes. Multiply the ingredients by the number of guests, combine the rum, juices, and syrup in a large pitcher, and refrigerate until serving. Do not add ice to the pitcher—instead, pour the mix over individual glasses filled with crushed ice. This keeps the drink from diluting too quickly.
Is the Bacardi Hurricane the same as the New Orleans Hurricane?
The New Orleans Hurricane traditionally uses two rums, passion fruit syrup, and citrus, which is very similar to this recipe. The Bacardi version specifically calls for Bacardi rums, but the structure is the same. Some bars add a float of 151-proof rum on top for extra strength—skip that unless you want a much stronger drink.
What glass should I use if I don’t have a hurricane glass?
Any tall glass works, such as a highball or Collins glass. The shape doesn’t affect the taste, only the presentation. If you use a shorter glass, reduce the crushed ice slightly so the drink doesn’t overflow.
This cocktail is for adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly and never drink and drive.
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