- 8,550
- 210
- Joined Feb 13, 2008
The "Hurricane" cocktail seems likely to have been invented at Pat O'Brien's, a drinking establishment in the French Quarter of the Crescent City, and is the (dare I say it) traditional, Nawlins, mardi-gras drink. (Well at least one of them. The mardi-gras (1) and carnivals (2) I've been to have been less "what you've drunk," than "how drunk you are." We've all made mistakes, haven't we? I don't actually remember this, but a friend has pictures of someone resembling me, but drunker, running away from a herd of cattle during the Festival de San Fermin in Pamplona. But let's not wander too far. )
While there's no official mardi gras cocktail (is there?), the Hurricane is sufficiently identified with Fat Tuesday celebrations to feature on many pre-printed invitations. For instance: Hurricane Party Invitation Cardstock
The origin myth (see wiki, et al) has it the cocktail was invented because of a Scotch shortage in New Orleans during the forties and a relative plentitude of rum. Who knows? That could be part of it.
However, mixologists will notice the Hurricane bears a lot of similarity to Don the Beachcomber's version of "Navy Grog," first served in 1941, which also contains a blend of rums, citrus, and sweetener. And, the Navy Grog was already sweeping the country at the time the Hurricane was invented. My guess, without discounting the relative ease of obtaining rum, is that the Hurricane originated as a play on the Navy Grog. Quien sabe?
Whichever came first, the Hurricane was popular enough to get its own glass (shaped like... wait for it... a hurricane lantern) and the Navy Grog did not. But perhaps the glass was part of the impetus in creating and naming the drink. Again, quien sabe?
HURRICANE COCKTAIL
Serves: 1
Difficulty: Not bad at first, but gets more complicated as the party goes on.
Ingredients
Cocktail
1-1/2 oz each white and dark rums, or 3 oz amber (aha!) rum
1-1/2 oz fresh orange juice
1-1/2 oz fresh lime juice
1 tbs passion fruit syrup (may substitute 3 oz passion fruit juice or Hawaiian Punch)
1 tsp bartender's (superfine) sugar
1 tsp grenadine
Garnish:
Cherries, oranges
Glass:
Hurricane (duh)
Technique:
Fill a shaker (no ice yet) with all the cocktail ingredients except the grenadine. Cover, and shake until sugar is completely dissolved.
Add the grenadine, stir to mix.
Add ice, cover and shake until shaker is too cold to hold.
Partially fill a hurricane glass with ice, strain the cocktail over it, then add enough extra ice to fill the glass.
Garnish with an orange slice on the rim, and at least one cherry on top. It's a pink drink fergawd's sake. Don't feel embarassed about using lots of garbage (garnish).
Here's an image of a small "hurricane" glass, I'm sure you've seen them in a cocktail lounge near you (while researching glassware, no doubt) Libbey Hurricane 15 Ounce Glass |2 DZ| HUR-1-CL at Instawares. The big ones run, typically, 23 oz.
Laissez le bon temps rouler!
BDL
PS. The actual ingredient list is very close to (supposedly) Pat O'Brien's original, although mine is a big lighter and makes use of a standard shot glass for darn near everything. But the words are mine, so here comes the usual recipe anodyne: This recipe is original with me. You may share if you like, but only on condition of attributing it to me, Boar D. Laze.
PPS. This time the French, laissez le bon temps rouler, is correct and grammatical -- just not quite the native, New Orleans' version. Apologies to Thi and Bou.
While there's no official mardi gras cocktail (is there?), the Hurricane is sufficiently identified with Fat Tuesday celebrations to feature on many pre-printed invitations. For instance: Hurricane Party Invitation Cardstock
The origin myth (see wiki, et al) has it the cocktail was invented because of a Scotch shortage in New Orleans during the forties and a relative plentitude of rum. Who knows? That could be part of it.
However, mixologists will notice the Hurricane bears a lot of similarity to Don the Beachcomber's version of "Navy Grog," first served in 1941, which also contains a blend of rums, citrus, and sweetener. And, the Navy Grog was already sweeping the country at the time the Hurricane was invented. My guess, without discounting the relative ease of obtaining rum, is that the Hurricane originated as a play on the Navy Grog. Quien sabe?
Whichever came first, the Hurricane was popular enough to get its own glass (shaped like... wait for it... a hurricane lantern) and the Navy Grog did not. But perhaps the glass was part of the impetus in creating and naming the drink. Again, quien sabe?
HURRICANE COCKTAIL
Serves: 1
Difficulty: Not bad at first, but gets more complicated as the party goes on.
Ingredients
Cocktail
1-1/2 oz each white and dark rums, or 3 oz amber (aha!) rum
1-1/2 oz fresh orange juice
1-1/2 oz fresh lime juice
1 tbs passion fruit syrup (may substitute 3 oz passion fruit juice or Hawaiian Punch)
1 tsp bartender's (superfine) sugar
1 tsp grenadine
Garnish:
Cherries, oranges
Glass:
Hurricane (duh)
Technique:
Fill a shaker (no ice yet) with all the cocktail ingredients except the grenadine. Cover, and shake until sugar is completely dissolved.
Add the grenadine, stir to mix.
Add ice, cover and shake until shaker is too cold to hold.
Partially fill a hurricane glass with ice, strain the cocktail over it, then add enough extra ice to fill the glass.
Garnish with an orange slice on the rim, and at least one cherry on top. It's a pink drink fergawd's sake. Don't feel embarassed about using lots of garbage (garnish).
Here's an image of a small "hurricane" glass, I'm sure you've seen them in a cocktail lounge near you (while researching glassware, no doubt) Libbey Hurricane 15 Ounce Glass |2 DZ| HUR-1-CL at Instawares. The big ones run, typically, 23 oz.
Laissez le bon temps rouler!
BDL
PS. The actual ingredient list is very close to (supposedly) Pat O'Brien's original, although mine is a big lighter and makes use of a standard shot glass for darn near everything. But the words are mine, so here comes the usual recipe anodyne: This recipe is original with me. You may share if you like, but only on condition of attributing it to me, Boar D. Laze.
PPS. This time the French, laissez le bon temps rouler, is correct and grammatical -- just not quite the native, New Orleans' version. Apologies to Thi and Bou.