Made with two fruit juices, three types of liquor, and grenadine, this Hurricane Drink is one rum cocktail that packs a punch! Fruity and sweet (but not overly so), this cocktail is perfect for summer.
Other refreshing cocktails we love on a hot day include our Sex on the Beach Drink and a Dirty Shirley!
New Orleans Hurricane Drink Recipe
If you’ve ever visited New Orleans, Louisiana, then you’ve probably at least seen a Hurricane cocktail on the menu – if not indulged in a few yourself.
This sweet and fruity cocktail is a NOLA classic, one that’s been around since the 1940s. And it’s easy to see why. Though it’s made with two types of rum and amaretto, it basically tastes like fruit juice!
It’s super easy to make this classic cocktail at home, though I tend to use pineapple juice instead of passion fruit and simple syrup, which is easier and still tropical and delish!
Why You’ll Love This Rum Cocktail
Here are a few reasons you’ll find yourself making this Hurricane drink on repeat this summer.
- Quick and easy. All you need to do is shake and pour over ice.
- Fruity flavor. Made with both orange juice and pineapple juice, this Hurricane cocktail is fruity without being overly sweet.
- Perfect for summer. This rum cocktail is perfect for hot summer days. It has a tropical feel, despite originating in New Orleans, and is ideal for sipping poolside.
What’s A Hurricane Cocktail?
A Hurricane is a popular cocktail that originated in the French Quarter of New Orleans during World War II. Credit for the popular cocktail goes to Pat O’Brien’s bar, though there are a few different theories as to when and why.
One theory is that when whiskey supplies were running low, bars were forced to order a case of rum for every bottle of whiskey. O’Brien’s is said to have created the Hurricane as a way to use up the excess rum, adding the fruit juices to hide how strong the drink actually was.
Today, you can order a Hurricane pretty much anywhere in New Orleans – including at Pat O’Brien’s. But it’s actually a simple rum cocktail that you can easily make at home.
Ingredients Needed
A classic Hurricane cocktail is made with fruit juice, a few different liquors, and grenadine.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Orange juice – Bottled orange juice is fine but make sure it’s pulp-free.
- Pineapple juice – A traditional Hurricane cocktail uses passion fruit syrup but this is my preferred alternative.
- Amaretto – Adds a light, nutty almond flavor to the cocktail.
- Rum – This drink is made with both light rum and dark rum.
- Grenadine – Grenadine sweetens the cocktail.
- Lemon juice – A bit of lemon juice enhances the flavor.
- Orange slice – For garnish.
- Maraschino cherries – For garnish.
Hurricane Drink FAQ’s
New Orleans has several famous drinks but the most famous is the Hurricane cocktail, made with two types of rum, grenadine, and fruit juice.
A daiquiri is typically made with just one type of rum, while a Hurricane is always made with two plus amaretto. And daiquiris usually have just one fruit (like strawberry) while a Hurricane is made with two.
The two are very similar, especially when comparing the sweet and fruity Mai Tai cocktails you get at most restaurants. But a classic Mai Tai is actually not sweet or made with fruit juices, while a Hurricane tends to be very sweet and contains several fruit juices.
How To Make A Hurricane Drink
This rum cocktail is quick and easy to make at home.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Shake. Add all of the liquids to a cocktail shaker with ice. Cover and shake until cold.
- Pour over ice. Strain the mixture into hurricane glasses filled with crushed ice.
- Garnish. Add orange slice halves and cherries onto decorative picks to garnish the glasses. Enjoy!
Tips & Variations
Here are a few tips and variations for this rum cocktail.
- Use quality ingredients. There’s no need for top-shelf rum here but choose something you enjoy drinking. And while you can definitely use bottled orange juice and pineapple juice, be sure to use real fruit juices and not the overly sugary ones.
- Add simple syrup if needed. This cocktail is pretty sweet on its own, thanks to the fruit juices and grenadine, but if you want it even sweeter, feel free to add some simple syrup to taste.
- Make it frozen. Prefer frozen cocktails? Blend all of the ingredients with ice, then pour into the glass and garnish.
More Summer Cocktails:
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Hurricane Drink
Ingredients
- crushed ice
- 6 ounces orange juice (pulp free)
- 6 ounces pineapple juice (or passion fruit syrup)
- 1 & 1/2 ounces amaretto liqueur
- 1 ounce light rum
- 1 ounce dark rum
- 1 ounce grenadine
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 orange slice , halved
- 2 maraschino cherries
Instructions
- Add crushed ice to 2, 16 ounce hurricane glasses.
- Pour all the liquids into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Cover and shake until very cold.
- Strain mixture into the prepared glasses.
- Thread the orange slice halves and cherries onto decorative picks to garnish the glasses.
