The Hurricane, Can You Handle a Stormin’ Good Cocktail?

Don’t we all love a hurricane? The cocktail of course, not the storm! I

The Hurricane looks like and tastes a bit like adult Hawaiian Punch! Packing a powerful punch, this passion fruit based rum drink was made popular in the 1940’s  at Pat O’Brien’s in the French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana. This fruity cocktail is served in a hurricane lamp shaped glass. Back in the ’40’s, O’Brien’s original bar was a speakeasy named Mr. O’Brien’s Club Tipperary and the secret password was storm’s brewin’.  Unfortunately during this time of pandemic, this famous restaurant/bar is temporarily closed, but we can make some of their famous cocktails using recipes from their website.  Pat O’Brien’s also offers their signature glassware on their website. So what do we need to get this party started? How about the original hurricane cocktail recipe?

ORIGINAL HURRICANE COCKTAIL (recipe from THE KITCHN)

• 2  oz dark rum
• 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 ounce passion fruit syrup

Method:

• Combine all ingredients in a shaker over ice. Shake and strain into an ice-filled glass. (The original recipe calls for crushed ice, but I prefer this with cubed, since the drink doesn’t get diluted as quickly.) Garnish with an orange slice and cherry.

When purchasing passion fruit juice or puree, check the ingredient list to make sure passion fruit is one of the main ingredients (listed at the beginning of the ingredient list) so that you will have a lot of pure passion fruit flavor in your cocktail.

There are lots of reasons to make Hurricanes for your next party:

• During this time of stay at home, you may not be able to travel to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, but you can have a Mardi Gras party at home, invite all of your friends and serve Hurricanes! Mardi Gras party food is great fun to make and eat – Mini Muffuletta Sandwiches, Shrimp Louis or Etouffe, Red Beans and Rice and don’t forget the King Cake – find the little plastic baby that is baked into the cake and tradition says you are “King for the Day”. These days it means that you get to bring the King Cake to the party next year.
• Since these cocktails are pretty,  fruity and sweet, most everyone will enjoy them. Have a fully stocked bar too, for those who like a little more boozy than fruity cocktails.
• If there is an actual hurricane going on (and you are not in an evacuation zone!), you can invite your friends to a Hurricane Party at your house and serve everyone, you guessed it…Hurricanes!

How will enjoy Hurricanes this season – how about a Hurricane party?!