How to Make a Daiquiri

Daiquiri Cocktail is a classic cocktail made using only three ingredients. It is refreshing, sweet and tart at the same time, and a perfect treat for a hot day!

Although you probably drink them in a bathing suit, on the beach, frozen and in a big gulp cup, Daiquiri making is the true test of any bartender. The rumor is that you can tell a bartender’s prowess by the way in which she makes a Daiquiri. 

What might appear to be only a simple mix of white rum, lime juice and simple sugar can be easily ruined without the right touch.  So practice, practice, practice.  July 19 is National Daiquiri Day so we need to be prepared!

Saying that, it is easy to make it well enough at home to imbibe a few in the practicing.  I’m sure you’ll get it right more times than wrong – it is one of those perfect combinations.

As we know, cocktail history is a little unreliable, especially when it comes to classic cocktails like the Daiquiri.  It’s hard to imagine that local Cubans weren’t drinking the simple mix of lime, rum and sugar before an American engineer walked into the small town of Daiquiri.

Supposedly Jennings Cox, sent to work on a mining project there, replaced gin with rum when the former ran out and, boom, the Daiquiri was born. It did impress an Admiral Lucius Johnson who is said to have introduced it to his buddies at the Army & Navy Club in DC. 

The most famous drinker of the cocktail has to be Ernest Hemingway who propped up El Floridita Bar in Havana, his favorite stomping ground. You can pay homage to the great American writer and his cocktail, if you find yourself in that part of the world. I don’t suggest having 17 at once, which was once his record.

Maybe that’s why he preferred his own take on the Daiquiri, now known as the Hemingway Daiquiri  – less sugar, more rum, and a hint of grapefruit juice! John F. Kennedy also loved a Daiquiri and many were poured in the White House during his term.

What goes into a Daiquiri?

Technically, the Daiquiri falls under the cocktail category of the sour: spirit, sweet and sour, think gin fizz, whisky sour, and margarita, Just the three main ingredients and a garnish go into a classic Daiquiri.

Fresh ingredients are so important – so please, please, please use fresh lime juice! I love this lemon squeezer which can be used with limes as well! It has holes on the bottom that fit right over the jigger, making it super easy to get the perfect amount of lime.

• White Rum: The main ingredient used for this classic cocktail is white rum. Also known as light rum, white rum is made using sugar cane juice or molasses. It has a sweet, crisp flavor with a touch of softness to it. If you are using an aged white rum or a dark rum, you will get notes of woodsy flavor like vanilla. I have used Bacardi rum from Puerto Rico for this recipe, but you can also use any other brand.
• Simple syrup: You can easily make it and store it in the refrigerator. It is a simple concoction of sugar dissolved in water.
• Fresh Lime Juice: Lime juice from fresh limes is a must! Adding lime juice to this classic Daiquiri cocktail means it will balance out the sweetness of the white rum and the sugar syrup making it tantalizingly fresh!
• Lime Wheel: A lime wheel, slice of lime or lime wedge is the ideal garnish.

What tools you need to make the Daiquiri

You’ll need a cocktail shaker for this one! Grab a jigger, a barspoon, a strainer, and cocktail glasses for this classic recipe. You can change the ratio as much as you like. I like a big bang of rum, so I use least 2 oz or 60ml. Sometimes I want it a little sweeter, so I add more sugar. It’s really up to you!

It can also be served neat, on ice and frozen.

I make my own sugar syrup. It takes about 2 minutes. Just measure out half of a cup (100ml) of white sugar into a pot and add the same amount of water. Heat until dissolved, let it cool, then pour into a glass container. It can keep in the fridge for months.

Always add in the spirit last. Just in case you made a mistake, you don’t want to waste any of that precious liquid. I always promote the use of the best spirits on the market. Don’t skimp! Invest in a good spirit and your cocktail will always be so much better.

There is nothing like a mojito! It is super easy and quick to make and is a favorite of many! Here is how you can make this simple cocktail:

I collect vintage glasses and find them at antique stores or on Etsy at my favorite on-line shop!

• Step 1: Start by adding white rum, simple syrup, and lime juice into a cocktail shaker.
• Step 2: Add ice cubes to fill the shaker and seal the lid tightly.
• Step 3: Start shaking the cocktail shaker for a few seconds or until the drink is chilled.
• Step 4: Pour the cocktail by passing it through a strainer directly into your coupe glass.
• Step 5: Garnish with a lime wheel. Bottom’s up!

• Top Tip(ple)🍸: When making a Daiquiri cocktail, keep these few tips in mind for maximum flavor:
  • You can turn this cocktail into a fruity cocktail by adding your favorite fruits. I love adding strawberries to this drink. As you muddle and smash it, you get a beautiful pinkish color and the freshness and flavor of strawberries. This drink is particularly amazing for summer days.
  • You can also add grapefruit juice for flavor.
  • You can decorate the rim of your coupe or serving glass with daiquiri sugar as well. Add color to the sugar for a better visual presentation.

Here is the recipe!

PIN THIS DAIQUIRI RECIPE FOR LATER

Love this recipe?

Follow me on Pinterest for loads of great recipes and much more!! Just click the little red pin button at the top of the recipe card!