Virgin Hurricanes — The Summer Drink for a Louisiana Kind of Day

Week 490. Year 10. Tommy is 43. Deep summer. The business thriving. Luc (19) at LSU studying engineering. The heat index above 100 and the AC straining and the only relief is the cold beer and the screened porch and the sound of the fan turning and the knowledge that fall is coming and the gumbo is waiting.

Made fried catfish this week — the kind of food that fills the house with the smell of Louisiana and the knowledge that whoever walks through the door is walking into a home where the stove is on and the food is ready and the welcome is unconditional. The meal was the day. The day was the meal. Both were good. The door is open.

When you’ve got fried catfish on the stove and the heat index is sitting above 100 and the fan is the only thing standing between you and full surrender, you need something in your hand that feels like Louisiana — something cold and bright and a little festive, the kind of drink that belongs on a screened porch in August. A Virgin Hurricane fits that moment exactly. It’s what you pour when the door is open and the food is ready and whoever shows up is welcome, and you want the glass in their hand to say the same thing the meal does.

Virgin Hurricanes

Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 0 minutes | Total Time: 5 minutes | Servings: 2

Ingredients

• 1 cup passion fruit juice
• 1/2 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
• 2 tablespoons grenadine syrup
• 1 tablespoon simple syrup (or to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon orange extract
• 2 cups crushed ice
• Orange slices and maraschino cherries, for garnish

Instructions

1. Combine the juices. In a large pitcher or cocktail shaker, combine the passion fruit juice, orange juice, and lemon juice. Stir to blend.
2. Add sweeteners. Pour in the grenadine and simple syrup. Add the orange extract and stir well until fully incorporated. Taste and adjust sweetness as needed.
3. Fill your glasses. Pack two tall hurricane glasses (or any large glasses) with crushed ice all the way to the rim.
4. Pour and garnish. Pour the drink mixture over the ice, dividing evenly between the two glasses. Garnish each with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry on a pick.
5. Serve immediately. These are best served right away while the ice is cold and the porch is calling.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 145 | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0g | Carbs: 36g | Fiber: 1g | Sodium: 15mg