The Hurricane was said to have been first served at the World’s Fair in 1939. Not much in known about that drink other than it was made with Rum and served in a Hurricane Glass, and truth be told, I couldn’t find any actual evidence of that story being true. The most likely story is that it was created at Pat O’Brien’s Bar in New Orleans in the mid 1940’s just after the end of WWII. At the time Whiskey, Gin and Cognac were in short supply but we (as a country) had a surplus of Rum. Because of this supply problem it lead to spirits distributors to require a bar to order multiple cases of rum to get just one case of Whiskey, a practice many in the bar industry are familiar with if you’ve ever tried to get your hands on Pappy Van Winkle. Some reports have said that it was the Head Bartender Louis Culligan who actually created the drink’s recipe and to me that’s the more likely story. Although I have no proof that this is true, I will say that in all my years working behind a bar I have yet to meet an owner who has created any cocktails. More likely the owners tasked Culligan to come up with a drink to help use up their copious supply of rum. This is further supported by the fact that it was Culligan who first published the recipe in Cabaret Magazine in 1956.
Also a note on something I say in this video so all the people in New Orleans on’t go crazy in the comments: It is illegal to drink and drive New Orleans and it is also illegal to have an open container. There are drive-through daiquiri restaurants in Louisiana. And an “open” container can be held in a locked glove compartment or if stored in another spot int the car where the driver has no access. There are also some exceptions to the law:
Exemptions to the Louisiana Open Container Law:
Any person who, as a condition of their employment, is required to carry open alcoholic beverages can do so as long as they or their passengers do not consume the alcohol.
Any passenger that pays a fare in any common, contract, or public carrier vehicle.
Any passenger in a courtesy vehicle while it is being operated as a courtesy vehicle
Any passenger of a self-contained motor home that is more than 21 feet long, and the open container is in the trunk of the vehicle. If the vehicle does not have a trunk, the open container may be in a locked glove box or utility box or an area of the vehicle that is not normally occupied or is not readily accessible to the driver or passengers.
Passengers riding on a parade float
Passengers riding in a privately owned limousine in which the driver has a Class D commercial driver’s license.
Also Another note:
The original Hurricane included an ingredient called “Fassionola” Syrup it is a blend of Strawberry, mango, Pineapple, Passion fruit, Hibiscus and Lime. A lot of people are going to argue that the hurricane is not a Hurricane without this ingredient. I will say that Fassionola is a hard to get ingredient and i think it’s seasonal. If you wanna try and get it you can do so here
Hurricane
Instructions
- Add Ingredients to Tin
- Add shaking ice
- Shake 8-10 seconds
- Strain into Hurricane Glass
- Fill with crushed ice
- Garnish with Cocktail Umbrella. (Weathered Umbrella is optional, but fun)
