Served in a tall statuesque glass and lavishly garnished with cherries and orange slices on plastic swords, the rum-based Hurricane cocktail is more than just a drink. It’s a whole New Orleans experience.

“Out-of-towners feel like they have to order one to fit into the local culture,” says Mickey Mullins, beverage director at The Bower. “However, a classic daiquiri is more locally popular once you get outside the [French] Quarter.”

Rum may be having a trendy moment elsewhere, but it’s never gone out of style in New Orleans.

“Rum has always been a staple here,” Mullins mentions. “Everyone has a rum punch on their menu. At The Bower, we offer a different Southern-style punch every day.”

Behind the bar, Mullins enjoys introducing the friendly spirit to new audiences in ways they might not have tried before.

“Right now, I’m obsessed with pandan [a tropical southeast Asian plant-based syrup] and rum,” he laughs. “When you see the bright green color, you expect it to be sweet, but it’s actually got savory, nutty notes.”

Want to experiment with rum drinks at home? Mullins recommends swapping your favorite spirit with light or dark rum in tried-and-true classic drink recipes for something new without going too far outside your comfort zone.

“Start with something easy like a rum Old Fashioned,” he suggests. “You might find you like it even better than the original version.”