How to Make World-Famous Daiquiris

The traditional daiquiri is made as an unfrozen concoction.

The mixture known as the daiquiri became an allegedly world-famous drink made by the El Floridita Bar in Havana, Cuba. Daiquiris were a favorite drink of author Ernest Hemingway, who frequented the El Floridita Bar. The original daiquiri, made from lime juice, light rum and a simple syrup mixture, has evolved to include a number of flavors and frozen types, such as the strawberry daiquiri. You can make a world-famous daiquiri at home using basic ingredients and adding fruit or flavored liqueur to provide variety.

Things You'll Need

• Light rum
• Lime
• Simple syrup mixture
• Cocktail shaker
• Cocktail strainer
• Martini glass
• Fresh fruit
• Crushed ice
• Blender
• Cocktail glass
• Fruit garnish
• Straw
• Flavored liqueur (optional)

Instructions

Making Traditional Daiquiris

1. Choose a light rum variety. Light rums, referred to as white or silver rums, are dry and provide a sweet hint that is not over-powering to the palette. Light rums pair well with citrus and tropical fruits for daiquiris.

2. Bring 1/2 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar to a boil in a small saucepan to create a simple syrup. Decrease the heat on your stovetop to low. Stir the mixture until the sugar dissolves into the water. Remove your mixture from the heat to cool it. Place your simple syrup mixture in your refrigerator for one hour to chill it.

3. Pour 2 oz. of your light rum into a cocktail shaker. Squeeze 1 oz. or more of a fresh lime into the shaker, depending on how much lime flavor you desire. Add 1/2 tsp. of your chilled simple syrup. Pour ice into the shaker.

4. Shake your mixture with force for 30 seconds. This allows the ingredients to mix and creates a foam. Place your cocktail strainer on the top of your shaker. Pour your mixture through the strainer and into a martini glass. Garnish the glass with a wedge of a citrus fruit such as lime, lemon or orange.

Creating Frozen Daiquiris

1. Pour 2 oz. of light rum into a blender. Add 1 oz. of fresh lime juice. Pour 1/2 tsp. of sugar to sweeten the mixture, if desired.

2. Add 1 cup of fresh fruit, such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, pineapples, bananas, star fruit or cherries.

3. Fill the blender up to the half-way line with crushed ice. Place the lid on the blender. Blend at a low speed for five to 10 seconds. Check the firmness of your mixture. Add 1/4 cup of crushed ice to the mixture to firm it up, if necessary. Blend on high for five seconds.

4. Pour your frozen fruit daiquiri into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime, orange and cherry. Add a straw.

Tips & Warnings

• Add chocolate-flavored liqueur and chocolate shavings to frozen banana and strawberry daiquiris for added flavor. Mix fresh fruits for blended daiquiris.

References

• Drink Street: Drink Recipe: Daiquiri
• Liquor Snob: Make Your Own Simple Syrup For Cocktails
• Drinks Mixer: Daiquiris
• Floridita-Cuba: History