Hurricane Cocktail Recipe

Before you start

The Hurricane is a big, fruity rum drink tied to the French Quarter of New Orleans, named for the tall, curved glass it is served in. Many versions poured on Bourbon Street use a bright red powdered or bottled mix. Made from real ingredients, it is a balanced passion fruit rum sour: tropical, tart and deceptively strong.

Passion fruit is the defining flavor. Passion fruit syrup, or a mix of passion fruit purée and simple syrup, gives the drink its perfume and tartness. Two rums, one light and one dark, provide both brightness and depth. A splash of orange juice and a small amount of grenadine round things out and give the drink its sunset color.

Ingredients

• 45 ml (1½ oz) white rum
• 45 ml (1½ oz) dark rum
• 30 ml (1 oz) passion fruit syrup — or 30 ml passion fruit purée plus 15 ml simple syrup
• 22 ml (¾ oz) fresh lemon juice
• 15 ml (½ oz) fresh orange juice
• 5 ml (1 tsp) grenadine
• 1 cup (about 150 g) ice cubes — for shaking, plus crushed or cubed ice to serve
• 1 orange slice and cocktail cherry — garnish

Method

1. Fill the hurricane glass with crushed ice or cubes to chill it.
2. Combine both rums, the passion fruit syrup, lemon juice, orange juice and grenadine in the shaker.
3. Add ice and shake for 12 seconds, until the outside of the shaker is very cold.
4. Strain into the ice-filled glass. Add more ice to the top if needed.
5. Spear an orange slice and a cherry together on a pick and lay it across the rim.

Tips for success

• Taste your passion fruit product. Purées vary in tartness, and syrups vary in sweetness. Adjust the lemon by 5 ml to balance.
• If you can find fresh passion fruit, scoop the pulp of 2 fruits into the shaker and double-strain to remove seeds.
• A rich, molasses-heavy dark rum adds more depth than a caramel-colored spiced rum.

Substitutions

Passion fruit syrup

Passion fruit juice plus 15 ml simple syrup works, though the flavor is lighter. Avoid powdered hurricane mixes, which taste artificial.

Dark rum

An aged gold rum makes a lighter, less intense drink.

Lemon juice

Lime is sharper and adds a more tropical feel. Use it one-for-one.

Variations

Frozen Hurricane

Blend everything with 1 cup ice until smooth. Add 10 ml more syrup to make up for the cold.

Lighter Hurricane

Use 30 ml of each rum and top the glass with 30 ml soda water.

Troubleshooting

It is too sweet

Passion fruit syrups vary. Add 5–10 ml more lemon, or cut the syrup to 22 ml.

It tastes boozy and harsh

Shake longer and serve over plenty of ice; the drink needs dilution.

The passion fruit flavor is weak

Use real purée or syrup made from fruit rather than a flavored syrup.

Storage

Serve immediately. Refrigerate opened passion fruit purée and use it within a few days, or freeze it in small portions. Homemade passion fruit syrup keeps about 2 weeks in the fridge.

Safety notes

With 90 ml of rum, this drink contains about 2 U.S. standard drinks (one standard drink is about 14 g of pure alcohol). It drinks easily, so take your time. For adults of legal drinking age only, and do not drink and drive.