Daiquiri
A crisp Cuban rum sour that showcases perfect balance—just rum, lime and sugar shaken icy cold.
21%
ABV
easy
Difficulty
coupe
Glass
Flavor Profile
History & Heritage
“American engineer Jennings Cox is credited with mixing the first Daiquiri in 1898 in the Cuban mining town of Daiquirí when gin ran dry and local rum took its place. Naval officer Lucius Johnson brought the recipe to Washington, D.C. in 1909 where it spread through East Coast clubs. The drink surged in the 1940s as FDR's Good Neighbor policy boosted rum imports and bartenders like Constante Ribalaigua at Havana's El Floridita refined the cocktail into a global benchmark. Ernest Hemingway's frequent orders of his dry, grapefruit-laced version cemented the Daiquiri's literary lore, and David Embury later enshrined it as one of the six fundamental cocktails in *The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks*.”
Ingredients
Quality ingredients make all the difference. Each component plays a crucial role.
Method
Technique transforms ingredients into something extraordinary.
Chill a coupe glass
Combine rum, lime and syrup in a shaker with plenty of ice
Shake hard for 12–15 seconds until frosty
Double strain into the chilled glass
Garnish with a fresh lime wheel
Glassware
Served up in a chilled coupe glass
Garnish
Master's Tips
Professional insights to elevate your craft
Use fresh lime juice only
Choose a characterful white rum
Shake briskly and double strain to keep it silky
Flavor Journey
Every great cocktail tells a story through its flavors. Here's the sensory experience you can expect.
Sweet
out of 10
Sour
out of 10
Bitter
out of 10
Strong
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Variations & Riffs
Classic cocktails inspire countless variations. Here are some popular riffs on the Daiquiri.
2:1:1 Ratio
Equal parts lime and syrup for a slightly sweeter balance popular in mid-century recipes.
Changes
Demerara Syrup
Swap in rich demerara syrup for subtle molasses depth.
Changes
Hemingway Daiquiri
Adds maraschino liqueur and grapefruit juice—often with little or no sugar—for Hemingway's preferred dry profile.
Changes
Frozen Daiquiri
Blended with crushed ice for a smooth, slushy crowd-pleaser.
Changes
More to Explore
If you enjoyed this cocktail, these similar creations might capture your interest.
Classic Mojito
Cuba's iconic highball of rum, lime, mint, and sugar lengthened with bubbly soda for ultimate refreshment.
Gimlet
A crisp blend of gin and lime that began as a naval ration and evolved into a minimalist classic.
Hemingway Daiquiri
El Floridita’s dry daiquiri for Hemingway—white rum balanced with grapefruit, lime, and a touch of maraschino.