Hurricane

The Hurricane is New Orleans' most famous cocktail contribution to the rum world. Created in the 1940s at Pat O'Brien's Bar in the French Quarter during World War II, the drink emerged from necessity and creativity. During wartime, whiskey was scarce but rum was plentiful, so bar owner Pat O'Brien developed this potent rum punch to move excess inventory. The cocktail was named after the hurricane lamp-shaped glasses it was served in, which became iconic symbols of New Orleans nightlife. The original Hurricane combines light and dark rum, passion fruit syrup, fresh lemon juice, and lime juice, creating a deceptively strong tropical punch that balances fruity sweetness with rum firepower. The drink's bright red-orange color became synonymous with Bourbon Street revelry and Mardi Gras celebrations. Pat O'Brien's still serves thousands of Hurricanes daily in signature hurricane glasses (tourists can keep the glass with a deposit). Over decades, countless variations emerged—some bars use commercial Hurricane mix, others craft more complex versions with multiple fruit juices. Authentic recipes maintain the passion fruit base and serious rum content (often 4 oz total). The Hurricane represents New Orleans' unique cocktail culture: excessive, celebratory, tourist-friendly yet historically rooted. While the drink has been commercialized and sometimes poorly executed, a proper Hurricane showcases rum's versatility and tropical punch's appeal. The cocktail embodies French Quarter nightlife, Southern hospitality, and the Big Easy's ability to turn cocktails into cultural experiences that extend far beyond the glass.