This classic cocktail traces its origins back to the shores of Cuba, where it emerged as a refreshing drink embraced by locals and later gained global recognition.
The Daiquiri’s story begins in the early 20th century in the mining town of Daiquirí, Cuba. Legend has it that an American mining engineer, Jennings Cox, found himself in need of a refreshing drink to combat the tropical heat. With limited ingredients at his disposal—white rum, limes, sugar, and ice—Cox ingeniously combined these elements, giving birth to the Daiquiri. The cocktail’s popularity soared, especially after it caught the attention of American writer and Nobel laureate, Ernest Hemingway, who became a fervent advocate of the drink.
The simplicity and balance of the original Daiquiri recipe quickly captivated the hearts of cocktail enthusiasts worldwide, establishing it as a timeless rum cocktail that remains a staple in bars and home mixology to this day.
Daiquiri Cocktail Ingredients
- White Rum (60 ml / 2 ounces): The soul of the Daiquiri, white rum provides the base for the cocktail.
- Fresh Lime Juice (30 ml / 1 ounce): The acidity of freshly squeezed lime juice is pivotal for balancing the sweetness.
- Simple Syrup (15 ml / 0.5 ounce): A sweetener, simple syrup, made by combining equal parts water and sugar, rounds out the flavor profile of the Daiquiri.
Daiquiri Cocktail Recipe
- Prepare Your Glass: Chill your coupe glass in advance.
- Combine Ingredients: In a cocktail shaker, mix 60ml of white rum, 30ml of freshly squeezed lime juice, and 15ml of simple syrup.
- Shake: Add a generous amount of ice to the shaker. Seal it tightly and shake vigorously for about 10-15 seconds to chill and blend the flavors well.
- Strain: Use a strainer to pour the mixture into the chilled coupe glass, ensuring a smooth serve.
- Garnish (Optional): Embellish with a lime wheel or twist for an elegant presentation.
Daiquiri – One Of The Classics
The modern Daiquiri is widely believed to have originated around 1898 in a mining village near the beach of the same name on the southeastern coast of Cuba, just east of Santiago de Cuba. According to one popular account, its invention is attributed to an American mining engineer named Jennings Cox and a U.S. Navy medical officer who introduced Cox’s recipe to Washington, D.C., thereby popularizing it in the United States.
However, considering the drink’s straightforward combination of three Caribbean staples, it’s plausible that similar concoctions existed before this narrative. For instance, Grog, a beverage favored by British sailors, involved diluting rum rations with water, often mixed with lime and sugar to create a palatable solution for combating scurvy, dating back at least 150 years before Cox’s alleged creation.
