The Hurricane

The Hurricane is the post-Prohibition drink most associated with New Orleans, and what better way to celebrate the exuberant spirit of Mardi Gras than by adding this classic rum drink to the menu. The Hurricane was the child of need and opportunity, created by the owner of Pat O'Brien's bar in the 1940's. At that time, rum was easier to obtain than other spirits because of the war. The now-famous glass the drink is served in was a new design that a salesman sold to O’Brien at a discount. Since the curvaceous new glass reminded O'Brien of a hurricane lamp, the drink that filled it became known as a Hurricane.

Light and gold rum form the base of this fruity cocktail, which is typically made with sweet fruit juices and syrups and balanced with sharp citrus and herbal Galliano liqueur. BadCat’s version features our house-made grenadine in place of passion fruit syrup, which I believe adds depth to this tropical drink. I added grapefruit juice to further balance the sweetness and enhance the tropical feel of the drink, while keeping the sweetness from being too overpowering.