thirsty thursday pat o'brien's and the iconic hurricane cocktail

The Hurricane Cocktail
For each drink, combine

• 2oz amber rum
• 1/4 cup passion fruit juice
• 1tsp superfine sugar
• 1tsp grenadine
• juice of half a lime

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker.  Strain into a tall glass, with ice (perhaps that old Pat O's glass you got all those years ago...) garnished with a slice of orange and a cherry.  Or two.  Go ahead, make it three.


Some fun facts about the home of the Hurricane, and appropriately so, Pat O'Brien's, in the fabulous French Quarter of New Orleans, adapted from, and courtesy of Pat O'Brien's.com.

Through the years, Pat O'Brien's has been, and always will be, an important part of New Orleans culture.

At the end of prohibition in 1933, Pat O'Brien converted his speakeasy, Mr. O'Brien's Club Tipperary, into a legitimate drinking establishment in the 600th block of St. Peter Street. Business was good and the bar was always filled with neighborhood folk. There was a little upright piano in the corner for entertainment and lots of lively conversation. In a few years, the space was outgrown. Mr. O'Brien partnered with his friend, Charlie Cantrell, and purchased the building at 718 St. Peter Street.  Built in 1791 as home of the first french theater company in New Orleans, O'Brien's calls this location home, still today.  

In the mid 40's, business boomed with the creation of the 'hurricane' drink. According to legend, liquor such as whisky, bourbon, and scotch were in short supply, however plenty of rum was coming up river. Bar owners were forced to buy large quantities of it in order to purchase other liquor. Through trial and error, it was just that dilemma that birthed a drink that everyone loved. Mr. O'Brien served it in a curvy, tall glass shaped a bit like a hurricane lamp, and the rest is history. 

Pat O's, so-called by the locals, was the first stop on any trip to The Quarter, whether you were from around the corner, from 80 miles down the road, or from around the world. For many, it still is today. Steamy, loud, raucous, all of what The Quarter stands for--it is a special place. If only for a look around, and perhaps a break from the revelry of Bourbon Street, you really shouldn't miss it.

Oh, and they have food, too!

Stop back in tomorrow, and join us for a platter of our favorite, delightfully messy, Creole Barbecue Shrimp, on Notes From Maggie's Farm.

Laissez les bon temps roulet, y'all!