New Orleans Hurricane Drink (and Other Cajun Cocktails)

When it comes to Cajun cocktails, a hurricane is a New Orleans classic. It's sweet, tangy, and has just the right amount of rum to get your party started!

The passionfruit syrup that you'll need to make it has tons of other uses, too. You'll be glad you have it on hand for experimenting with other Cajun alcoholic drinks.

One sip of this original hurricane cocktail and you'll be transported from your Mardi Gras party straight to Bourbon Street in the French quarter!

Jump to:

• What is a hurricane cocktail?
• Ingredients Needed For a Hurricane Cocktail
• More Cajun Cocktails
• 📖 Recipe
• Cajun & Creole

What is a hurricane cocktail?

There are lots of theories about where and how the hurricane cocktail originated. The most popular theory is that it began at Pat O'Brien's in New Orleans shortly after World War II when whiskey was in short supply.

Liquor suppliers had a surplus of rum and required bar owners to order multiple cases of rum for one case of whiskey. In an effort to use up all this rum, the hurricane cocktail was born. Since then, it's become one of the most iconic Cajun beverages.

For more history on southern food and drinks you'll want to read Southern Food: Then & Now.

The original hurricane recipe was said to have consisted of nothing but rum, lemon juice, and the hard-to-come-by Fassionola. Fassionola was a sweet syrup with passionfruit and other fruit flavors.

These days, passionfruit syrup or puree is used in place of Fassionola, along with a mixture of orange juice, lime juice, and grenadine.

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on an affiliate link and buy something, we may receive a very small commission.  It does NOT result in additional charges to you or cost you anything extra. Click here for our full privacy and disclosure policy. As an Amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients Needed For a Hurricane Cocktail

• Orange juice - Fresh squeezed orange juice is always best, but you can use whatever you have on hand.
• Light rum - We usually use Bacardi
• Dark rum - Myer's rum is my go-to dark rum.
• Passionfruit Puree - I found this passionfruit puree on Amazon, and it is amazing in a hurricane cocktail! Not only that, but I have also been adding it to mojitos in place of simple syrup, and even gin & tonics to make them a bit more interesting!
• Lime juice - Use fresh squeezed lime juice for the best results
• Grenadine - This pomegrante-flavored syrup will sweeten the drink a bit and add a splash of deep red color.

The other important item you need to make a hurricane cocktail is a hurricane glass! You can find the ones we bought here. Hurricanes are also typically garnished with a slice of orange and a bright red maraschino cherry.

For the full list of ingredients and quantities, see the recipe card below.

More Cajun Cocktails

While the Hurricane is a staple of New Orleans' drink scene, there are plenty more Cajun cocktails that will take you back to the Crescent City. Here are some other must-try Cajun alcoholic drinks:

• Ramos Gin Fizz: A creamy, frothy drink that's been a New Orleans favorite since the 1880s. Made with gin, cream, egg white, and orange flower water, it's like drinking a boozy cloud.
• Cajun Martini: A spicy twist on the classic martini. It's often made with pepper-infused vodka or gin and a dash of hot sauce. It's garnished with pickled okra for an extra Cajun kick.
• Cajun Bloody Mary: This savory cocktail gets a Cajun makeover with Cajun spices like cayenne, paprika, and file powder. For the best bloody mary, garnish it with pickled vegetables, boiled shrimp, and a creole-spiced rim.
• Sazerac: Considered by many to be America's first cocktail, this New Orleans classic features rye whiskey or cognac, absinthe, and Peychaud's bitters. It's strong, sophisticated, and quintessentially Cajun.
• Cajun Screwdriver: This drink adds a splash of hot sauce and a pinch of Cajun seasoning to the traditional vodka and orange juice mix.

If you make any of our recipes we'd love for you to leave us a comment and star rating. If you're into sharing your creations, snap a photo and tag us when you post it to Facebook or Instagram.

If you're like us and you love all foods and drinks from the Cajun and Creole cuisines you'll want to try Shrimp Etouffee and Dirty Rice. For a different fruity cocktail option, you'll want to try this Fresh Pineapple Mojito. Even more recipes are pictured with links at the bottom.

📖 Recipe