The Story Behind The Hurricane
A French Quarter classic, the Hurricane is a potent and punchy delight — instantly transporting imbibers to warmer, more easygoing times.
The cocktail was first mixed up during Prohibition at Pat O’Brien’s, the famous NOLA joint known for its bustling courtyard and flaming fountain. As the bar was a speakeasy in its beginning, when clientele wanted to enter the bar, they were required to say a two-word password: “Storm’s brewin’.”
When the Hurricane was invented, whiskey was scarce but rum was in plenty. The final concoction therefore includes two types of rum (along with Grenadine and fruit juices), and is served in the O’Brien’s signature glass based on the shape of an upside-down kerosene lamp.
Though this cocktail appears complicated, it is so easy to make and drink that Pat O’Brien’s alone sells over half a million Hurricanes a year. Clearly, the beverage is a New Orleans staple — but it lets the good times roll all across the country.
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