Daiquiri
Rum, lime and syrup in perfect balance: cold, clear and astonishingly simple.
Ingredients
- White rum60 ml
- Lime juice, freshly squeezed22.5 ml
- Simple syrup (1 part Sugar, 1 part Water)15 ml
- Lime, to garnish (optional)1 wheel
Method
- Chill a coupe in the freezer, or fill it with iced water.
- Squeeze fresh lime juice.
- Pour the white rum, lime juice and simple syrup into a shaker with ice cubes.
- Shake hard for about 15 seconds, until the drink is well chilled.
- Double-strain into the cold glass.
- Garnish with a lime wheel, if you like.
About this drink
The Daiquiri comes from Cuba in the late nineteenth century and became a fixture of American bar culture between the wars. Hemingway is said to have taken his without sugar, but the classic version balances rum, lime and syrup in one simple, elegant ratio. Its simplicity is its strength: there is nowhere to hide if the rum or the lime is not at its best.
Questions and answers
Why do so many Daiquiris disappoint?
Because the drink lives or dies on fresh lime juice. Bottled juice gives a flat, chemical sourness, while a freshly squeezed lime gives the drink its signature brightness. With only three ingredients, every one of them counts.
Which rum is best in a Daiquiri?
A light, dry white rum with a little character, such as Havana Club 3 Años or Plantation 3 Stars, gives the best balance. A rum that is too neutral makes the drink dull; one that is too sweet drowns the lime.
Is a strawberry daiquiri the same as a Daiquiri?
No, it is really a different drink. Add fruit purée and you replace the rum's clean profile with sweetness and fruit, which changes the whole balance. The classic Daiquiri is just rum, lime and sugar.
