Mardi Gras Cocktail of the Week: Hurricane

There's still time to "laissez les bons temps rouler." Mardi Gras is tomorrow. So it's time to make the quintessential cocktail of New Orleans' French Quarter. The Hurricane. Made popular by Pat O'Brien's where it was created to take advantage of a glut of rum during World War II, it's one of those stealth drinks that sneaks up on you. It's like a big glass of Hawaiian Punch with a kick that you realize only when you've reached the bottom of the glass.

Of course, you can buy Hurricane mix from Pat O'Brien's, but here are a couple of recipes you could try. The unique ingredient is the passion fruit juice. It's not to be omitted if you want the authentic thing. And, of course, you should serve them in the traditional hurricane-shaped glass. (Hint: You can almost always find a few at garage sales.) If you don't have one, just use your biggest wine glass.

Hurricane
Makes one cocktail.

1 1/2 ounces light rum
1 1/2 ounces dark rum
1 ounce orange juice
1 ounce fresh lime juice
2 ounces passion fruit juice, or 1 tablespoon passion fruit syrup
1 teaspoon superfine sugar (or 1 tablespoon simple syrup)
1 teaspoon grenadine

Mix the rums, juices and sugar in a cocktail shaker until sugar is dissolved. Add the grenadine, then ice and shake. Strain into an ice-filled hurricane glass.

Garnish with orange slice and maraschino cherries.