Fresh pineapple, two kinds of citrus, dark and light rum… I’ve got your easy sipping, summertime cocktail right here!
Cheers to summer! When June hits, sunny skies are abundant, and lazy weekends hanging with friends and family are in order, I get the itch to create a new drink. And then put it on repeat. The Tempest is going to be my signature cocktail for summer 2021, and if you’re a rum fan, too, it’s about to become your new fave.
My summer sipper has got to be one that I can whip up easily, and scale up when company comes. It’s got to be one that is served with lots of ice for those days when the thermometer shows way too much red. And, it’s got to be refreshing with lots of citrus and fresh fruit!
This year, it’s a riff on the classic cocktail, the Hurricane. Created in New Orleans in the 1940s, the original Hurricane consists of rum, passion fruit, lemon and grenadine. It is delicious to be sure – but you know me, I’ve always got to mix it up (ha ha, yes, pun intended). Plus, passion fruit can be a tricky ingredient to source.
Instead, I use sweet pineapple in place of the passion fruit, and lime in place of the lemon. It’s important to always use fresh ingredients when mixing drinks for the best results. Frozen pineapple can be used, if needed, but canned can be cloyingly sweet and should be avoided. Ditto for the citrus – juice it yourself. It makes all the difference!
How can I make this for a crowd?
Place the pineapple, sugar, orange and lime juices in a blender and purée. Pour through a mesh strainer into a bowl, pressing on the solids, then stir in the two kinds of rum and grenadine. Pour into a pitcher and serve with ice.
The Tempest
Ingredients
- ½ cup cubed pineapple
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- ½ navel orange
- 1 lime
- 2 oz light rum
- 2 oz dark rum
- 2 tablespoons grenadine
Instructions
- Place the pineapple in a cocktail shaker or jar with a lid. Using a muddler or back of a wooden spoon, smash it with the sugar until it is broken down and juicy. Add the juice from the half orange, the juice from the lime, both rums, and a handful of ice. Place the top on the shaker or jar and shake vigorously.
- Fill two glasses with plenty of ice. Stain the drink equally between glasses, pour one tablespoon of grenadine over each, and serve immediately.
Wish I drank! L. Mom