Hurricane Cocktail Recipe – Rum, Citrus & Tropical Sweetness

Bold, fruity, and full of New Orleans spirit, the Hurricane is a cocktail with as much personality as its birthplace. First mixed in the 1940s at Pat O’Brien’s bar, this drink was created to use up surplus rum—and it became an instant Mardi Gras staple. The Hurricane blends light and dark rum with passion fruit, citrus, and grenadine for a tropical, sweet-yet-powerful punch served in its signature curvy glass. In this post, you’ll learn how to make the authentic Hurricane at home, along with tips for balancing sweetness, choosing the right rum, and batching it for parties. Whether you’re celebrating Mardi Gras or just craving something festive, the Hurricane is a storm worth riding.

9/5/20251 min read

📖 Ingredients (1 serving):

2 oz light rum
2 oz dark rum
1 oz passion fruit juice
¾ oz fresh lime juice
1 oz orange juice
½ oz simple syrup (or grenadine for extra color & sweetness)
½ oz grenadine (if not using syrup)
Ice

🍒 Garnish:

Orange slice
Maraschino cherry

🛠️ Equipment Needed:

Hurricane glass (or any large curved glass)
Cocktail shaker
Jigger or measuring tool

🍹 Instructions:

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
Add:
- 2 oz light rum
- 2 oz dark rum
- 1 oz passion fruit juice
- ¾ oz fresh lime juice
- 1 oz orange juice
- ½ oz grenadine (or simple syrup, depending on your sweetness preference).
Shake well until the drink is well chilled.
Strain into a hurricane glass filled with fresh ice.
Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.

✨ Tips for the Perfect Hurricane:

Rum balance: Use a bold, funky dark rum to complement the lighter base.
Juice matters: Fresh passion fruit and lime juice elevate the drink far beyond bottled versions.
Batch it: Hurricanes are perfect for parties—scale up the recipe and serve from a pitcher.
Be warned: It’s deceptively sweet but strong—sip slowly!

✅ Flavor Profile:
Fruity, tangy, and tropical with a deep rum backbone—this cocktail is as festive as New Orleans itself.