The Hurricane Drink, a New Orleans classic cocktail. Not as sophisticated as the Sazerac, but a lot less trailer park than the hand grenade; this drink is a must when visiting New Orleans. I am going to give you a list of spots where you can find the best Hurricane Drink in New Orleans. This is from my perspective, there are probably a million good places to find this drink. The ones I will include are my go-to spots. As always, if you have your favorites let me know, I will take the bullet and test them out…
First, what is a Hurricane Drink? It is a rum based cocktail; the good places use light rum and finish it off with dark rum on top. It is mixed with fruit juice (preferably homemade), commonly passion fruit and orange juice.
The creation of the cocktail is credited to New Orleans tavern owner Pat O’Brien. The bar allegedly started as a speakeasy called Mr. O’Brien’s Club Tipperary and the password was “storm’s brewin'”.
In the 1940s, O’Brien needed to create a new drink to help him get rid of all of the less-popular rum that local distributors forced him to buy before he could get a few cases of more popular liquors such as scotch and other whiskeys. He poured the concoction into hurricane lamp shaped glasses and gave it away to sailors. The drink caught on, and it has been a mainstay in the French Quarter ever since..but today you can only get the original in a few bars.
This isn’t a one-shot drink, good places make it taste like candy, while giving you 4-5 hits of rum. You probably should sip them, I never do…hence my “incident” on my plane ride home. I love these at all times of day. It is best to start them before 9 AM so you can get a nice lunch time nap… All Hurricane Drinks aren’t created equally, the below are my favorites.
Pat O’Brien’s
Hurricane Drink Price: $8.50 (with signature glass)
Not the best Hurricane in New Orleans, probably below average in my opinion, but I have to include them. After all they invented the damn drink, even if they did cheapen it with a thick corn syrup base. Located on Bourbon Street this place is always packed and has a nice patio. They also have food, crappy as it may be, the alligator is a safe choice if you must. Go, have a Hurricane Drink, take a selfie for Instagram and move on. There, I got Pat O Brien’s out of the way, now onto where you should REALLY go….
Curio
Hurricane Drink Price: $9 Happy Hour: $ 6
An unassuming bar right outside of the Hotel Monteleone, it is me and my crews traditional morning Hurricane Drink. So much so, that I am more likely than not, going to grab some and bring the late sleepers one as a wake up call. The cocktails are really a work of art. I was told by the bartender that this is the recipe Pat O’Brien’s used to use, until they swapped real juice with the corn syrup mix mentioned above. The cocktail may take a bit longer to make, but it is worth the wait.
Notice the color, a bit more orange/yellow than most of the other places we visited. Real juice isn’t hot pink, and you can tell by the flavor that this juice is legit (not a mix). What is even better, buy a Hurricane drink at happy hour (3PM-6PM) and you will get it for only $6. They have food also, and it looks delicious, but I only went for the drinks.
Fritzel’s European Jazz Pub
Hurricane Drink Price Varies
This bar is about as ‘divey’ as they come, complete with the hottest bathroom in America. We always end up here on our trips to New Orleans, and always have fun. The Hurricane Drinks are better than most, although their pricing scheme is a bit suspect. The sign outside reads Hurricanes $5, we walk in sit down and get three. The bill was $30, apparently there is a different price for takeaway Hurricanes. My assumption is those aren’t as good…
Having said this, the drinks themselves are great and I always seem to have a good time when I come here, they usually have free music, which never disappoints. Of course, every time I hear music in New Orleans it is good…
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar
Hurricane Drink Price: Its foggy
Admittedly, it gets a little dicey when remembering the Hurricanes at this old establishment. Lesson: Jurricanes at night are less remembered than daytime Hurricane Drinks. I know I enjoyed it…it was definitely better than Pat O Brien’s, I don’t think they use a mix. It was just past 6 PM in New Orleans, and at this point details start to escape me…
This bar has been around for hundreds of years so they must be doing something right. The also serve something called a Purple Drink, but I was too drunk to remember this when I got there. Just know this…between all the bars on Bourbon Street, gravitate toward this one.
and finally….
The Gazebo Cafe
Hurricane Drink Price: $9
I really love the Gazebo Cafe; they have a little to go window right outside the main restaurant. It is the perfect place to get your second Hurricane when on your way to breakfast in the French Market.
I would say this is a close second in terms of favorite Hurricane Drinks in New Orleans. For about $9, you get an amazing beverage, of which they do the second pour of dark rum to finish it. I hit up this spot every time we pass it, usually on the first morning.
I did eat there one time and listened to the free live music they were playing. It has been a while since I tried the food, but I remember I liked what they served. As usual in this city, I always enjoy the music.
Conclusion on The Best Hurricane Drink
Admittedly, this is almost a best Hurricane Drink in the French Quarter list, not all of New Orleans. Really, where else are you going to drink them? I am not running around the Garden District or the business district with a red Hurricane Drink in my hand. If you are near Frenchmen’s Street, I will give an honorable mention to Iggy’s a local bar that somehow I ended up spending a few hours. The people were friendly, even to those of us that wandered off from the French Quarter.
If it is your first time in New Orleans, and you want to experience a great Hurricane Drink, this list won’t lead you astray… just remember to pace yourself…(drink WATER!).
