The recipe
for your table
Shake both rums, the passion fruit, juices, and grenadine with ice for 12 seconds.
Strain into a Hurricane glass filled with fresh ice or crushed ice.
Stir briefly and check the color: deep red-orange.
Garnish with orange and a cherry.
The story
During World War II, whiskey was scarce, but rum from the Caribbean flowed into New Orleans. Distributors even forced bartenders to take dozens of crates of rum for every crate of whiskey. Pat O'Brien solved his surplus brilliantly: he mixed the rum with passion fruit syrup and lemon and served it in the glasses of hurricane lamps left over from his speakeasy days. The Hurricane became the drink of Bourbon Street, where it is still served in fluorescent versions today - although the fresh version is infinitely better.
The right glass
This cocktail has its own glass, and that's non-negotiable: the Hurricane glass, modeled after an old-fashioned hurricane lamp, with an elegant waist and a generous bowl of approximately 44 cl. Its tall shape makes the cocktail's fiery colors glow like a sunset. It's also indispensable for Piña Coladas and other tropical mixes - with one set of Hurricane glasses, your tiki repertoire can run wild. Anyone looking to expand their tropical repertoire will find embossed tumblers in our tiki glasses.
Royal Leerdam Cocktail Hurricane Cocktail Glass 44 cl (4 pieces)
Arcoroc Hurricane Cocktail Glass 44 cl (6 pieces)
Both sets — together € 70,90.
The right tools
For a Hurricane, besides the glass you need a shaker, a bar spoon for stirring, and a jigger for precise measuring. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you'll find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glass set (our choice 01) + 3 bar tools - together € 63,80.
Variations & twists
Fresh passion fruit juice instead of syrup makes the difference between tacky and classy. Using only dark rum makes it heavier and warmer. It works excellently for parties when made in a large pitcher - allow one part mix to one part ice and garnish each glass. Looking for more inspiration? Browse more than 100 cocktail recipes.
Serving tip
Use real passion fruit puree instead of a ready-made mix - that is the difference between a Bourbon Street tourist and a local. Serve with a long straw and plenty of ice.
Hurricane or Mai Tai: the difference
Both revolve around rum, but otherwise they differ. The Hurricane uses 3 cl white and 3 cl dark rum, passion fruit, orange juice, lime and grenadine: fruity, deep red and approachable. The Mai Tai sticks to aged rum, orange curaçao, orgeat and lime juice, without a drop of fruit juice, making it drier, nuttier and more mature in flavor. The glass also differs, with the tall 44 cl Hurricane glass versus a wide tiki glass. If you find tropical cocktails too sweet, start with the Mai Tai; if you are looking for the New Orleans party, choose the Hurricane.
How strong is a Hurricane
The result in the glass is roughly 12 percent ABV. The 6 cl of rum, totaling 2.4 cl of pure alcohol, is diluted with 3 cl passion fruit, 3 cl orange juice, 1.5 cl lime and 1.5 cl grenadine, while shaking and the ice bring the total to around 20 cl. That is almost two standard drinks per glass, despite its friendly flavor. That is precisely where the danger of this classic lies, because the fruit completely masks the rum. Serve water alongside and stick to two per evening.
Passion fruit puree or syrup
Fresh puree gives the best result and is easy to find frozen in the Netherlands, often in 20-gram cubes or one-kilogram bags. Allow 3 cl per glass, or about two ripe passion fruits. Ready-made passion fruit syrup consists mainly of sugar and coloring and makes the cocktail sticky, so if you use it anyway, halve the grenadine. You can also use the pulp straight from the fruit, but strain it first, otherwise the seeds will get stuck in the straw. Juice from a carton is the weakest option.
For a group from a pitcher
The Hurricane is ideal for making in a pitcher, as everything is shaken and there are no bubbles. Multiply the recipe by the number of people and mix everything except the ice: for ten glasses, that is 30 cl white rum, 30 cl dark rum, 30 cl passion fruit purée, 30 cl orange juice, 15 cl lime juice and 15 cl grenadine. Chill the pitcher for at least two hours. When serving, pour one part of the mixture over one part ice to recreate the dilution normally produced by shaking. Garnish each glass, not the pitcher.
Frequently asked questions
What is in a Hurricane cocktail?
A Hurricane contains 3 cl white rum, 3 cl dark rum, 3 cl passion fruit purée, 3 cl orange juice, 1.5 cl fresh lime juice and 1.5 cl grenadine, garnished with an orange slice and a cocktail cherry. The two rums together make it strong, while the grenadine provides its distinctive deep red color.
How do you make a Hurricane cocktail?
Shake both rums, the passion fruit, the juices and the grenadine with ice for twelve seconds, then strain everything into a glass filled with fresh ice or crushed ice. Stir briefly and garnish with orange and a cherry. The 44 cl tall glass makes the color shine; see our Hurricane glasses.
What is the difference between a Hurricane and a Mai Tai?
The Hurricane is fruitier and sweeter: it revolves around passion fruit, orange juice and grenadine. The Mai Tai contains no fruit juice except lime and gets its flavor from orgeat and curaçao. The Hurricane originated in New Orleans, while the Mai Tai originated in Trader Vic's California tiki bar.
How much alcohol is in a Hurricane?
There are 6 cl of spirits in just over 15 cl of liquid, which comes to approximately 15 to 18 percent alcohol after shaking. That is considerably more than wine and significantly more than the fruity flavor suggests. Expect one and a half standard drinks per Hurricane.
Everything for your bar,
to one address
Glasses in hospitality quality, delivered per set. Order today, delivered quickly.
Shop the glasses →