Alec Guinness in ‘Our Man in Havana’ at his local bar where he drank quite a few Daiquiris.

 

Daiquiri

The Daiquiri was invented in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. Instead of calling it something bland like a ‘rum sour’ it was named after a local beach, the Daiquiri.

The Classic Daiquiri

The original and simplest –

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces light rum
• 1 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
• 3/4 ounce simple syrup*
• Garnish: lime

*  1 cup of sugar & 1 cup of water – heat until the sugar dissolves and the syrup is clear. 

Add the rum, lime juice and syrup to a shaker with ice. This is a classic so serve it in a classic Nick and Nora cocktail glass. Garnish with a wedge of lime. This can easily become a frozen daiquiri by making it in a blender that will slush the ice.

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Hemingway Daiquiri aka Papa Doble

Invented by Ernest Hemmingway when he lived in Havana –

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces light rum
• 1/2 ounce maraschino liqueur
• 3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
• 3/4 ounce fresh grapefruit juice
• Garnish: lime

Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with lime.

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Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri

You don’t need a slush machine for this one –

Ingredients:

• 2 oz dark rum
• ¾ oz Key Lime juice
• 1 oz simple syrup
• A few strawberries
• 6 ice cubes

Add the rum, lime juice, syrup, strawberries, and ice to a blender. Mix until you get a slushy consistency. Pour into a coupe and garnish with a sprig of mint.

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Banana Daiquiri

A subtle hint of banana –

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces dark rum
• 3/4  ounce banana liqueur
• 1 ounce fresh lime juice
• 1/4 ounce simple syrup
• Garnish: banana slice

Add the rum, banana liqueur, lime juice and syrup into a shaker with ice. No bananas here except for the liqueur and  garnish. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a banana slice. You can easily make this a frozen banana daiquiri by making it in a blender with the addition of about a ¼ of a sliced banana.

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Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri

Some friends returned to the city from their summer house with strawberries. I had some with Wheaties for breakfast and now a frozen strawberry daiquiri for lunch.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz light or dark rum
• ¾ oz fresh squeezed lime juice
• 1 oz simple syrup
• A few strawberries
• 6 ice cubes
• Lime sugar for the rim of the glass
• A slice of lime for garnish

Add the rum, lime juice, syrup, and strawberries to a blender. Give it a whirl, first without ice. If it doesn’t appear thick enough add some more strawberries. Instead of whole ice cubes, it’s a good idea to crack them first. Wrap the cubes in a kitchen towel and hit them with a pan or rolling pin. Add the ice to the blender and mix it with the strawberries until you get a slushy consistency. Pour into the lime sugar rimmed glass and garnish with a slice of lime.

 

• For simple syrup, heat 1 part granulated sugar and 1 part water over low heat and stir until the mixture is clear.
•  For the lime sugar, you need 1 teaspoon of lime zest and 2 teaspoons of sugar. Put it in a food processor and grate for minute or two. Moisten the rim of the glass with a cut lime so the lime sugar sticks. (Thank you, Martha Stewart)

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