The Story Behind The La Floridita Daiquiri

No conversation about rum cocktails is complete without a mention of what I consider to be one of the most essential cocktails of all time. It’s a simple cocktail, consisting of rum, sugar, and lime — nothing too exciting here, until you take the best quality examples of each of these ingredients, and assemble them with care, skill, and finesse.

In the right hands, a Daiquiri is a thing of beauty: It’s bright, crisp, and refreshing. If there is any cocktail that I would designate as the one “to have and to hold,” it would be this one, hands down. Made famous by Bar La Floridita and one of its most loyal patrons, Ernest Hemingway, the Daiquiri is the best introduction to the rum category, and a must-have for anyone looking for ways to evaluate how well a spirit will perform in a more complex drink.

This recipe originally appeared in the VinePair article, "Taste American History With Classic Rum Drinks and Contemporary Riffs," written by Shannon Mustipher.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces aged white rum, such as Denizen Aged White or Diplomatico Planas
  • 2 generous barspoons white sugar
  • ¾ ounce fresh-pressed lime juice

Directions

  1. Combine lime juice and sugar in a shaker tin; stir to dissolve, about 30 seconds.
  2. Add rum and ice; shake to chill.
  3. Double strain into a chilled coupe, then serve.
  4. Optional garnish: lime wheel

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Updated: 2021-01-11

Shannon Mustipher’s La Floridita Daiquiri Recipe