Hemingway Special
A dry, tart rum drink with grapefruit, lime and a touch of maraschino: Hemingway's own Daiquiri.
Ingredients
- White rum60 ml
- Maraschino liqueur15 ml
- Grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed, pink grapefruit by preference40 ml
- Lime juice, freshly squeezed15 ml
Method
- Add the white rum, maraschino liqueur, grapefruit juice and lime juice to a shaker filled with ice.
- Shake hard for 10–15 seconds, until the shaker is frosty on the outside.
- Strain into a chilled coupe.
- Serve without a garnish for a clean, classic finish.
IBA (International Bartenders Association)
About this drink
The drink was born at El Floridita in Havana, where Ernest Hemingway insisted on his Daiquiri without sugar and with a double measure of rum. The grapefruit juice adds a light bitterness that plays well with the lime's acidity and the maraschino's discreet sweetness, while the rum keeps everything warm and round. The result is a drier, more complex cousin of the classic Daiquiri, just as the writer liked it.
Questions and answers
Is the Hemingway Special the same as a Hemingway Daiquiri?
Yes, they are two names for the same drink: a Daiquiri variation Ernest Hemingway is said to have preferred, with grapefruit and maraschino in place of syrup.
What if you have no maraschino liqueur?
You can make it without, but you lose the signature almond-cherry note that sets it apart from an ordinary grapefruit Daiquiri. Maraschino is affordable enough to be a good investment if you make the drink often.
