I know many people come to New Orleans for the amazing food and music but the real secret in this city is that it has amazing cocktails. No I don’t mean those terrible hand grenades or all those slushy tourist drinks you see on Bourbon street. This is the city that invented the cocktail and part of my time in, my second home, New Orleans has always been about discovering the best cocktails. We are going to start it off with a classic that so many people get wrong – the Hurricane.
The Hurricane was invented by Pat O’Brien at his namesake bar in the 1940’s as a way to dispose of all the rum that liquor distributors forced him to buy to get at the more popular scotch and bourbon. Sounds promising doesn’t it? Pat’s is the original and it is terrible. Trust me, no drink should be that brightly coloured. It is made with artificial mixes. If you want the best Hurricane you will find it in the most unlikely place and it comes in a terrible plastic go-cup. When in NOLA, you must get your Hurricane at LaFitte’s Blacksmith Shop. This is where the locals go for Hurricanes; the oldest bar in the USA since 1772.
If you can’t make it to NOLA, here is the recipe. The recipe may sound strong but it goes down smoothly while it kicks your ass.
- 6 oz Dark Rum
- 6 oz Light Rum
- 5 oz Fresh Orange Juice
- 5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 2 oz Fresh Guava Juice
- 2 oz Fresh Passion Fruit Juice
- Cherry
- Orange Slice
1. Shake it all together. Just like a Hurricane.
2. Drink
3. Repeat