Classic Daiquiri recipe
The perfect sour — three ingredients, infinite elegance.
Method: Shake ·
Glass: Coupe glass (chilled) ·
Time: 3 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: The Daiquiri Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz White Rum (Havana Club 3, Plantation 3 Stars, or Banks 5 Island)
- 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice (always fresh, never bottled)
- 0.75 oz Simple Syrup
How to make a Classic Daiquiri
- Add rum, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup to a shaker.
- Fill with ice and shake vigorously for 10-12 seconds.
- Double strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
Garnish
Lime wheel on the rim.
Pro tip
This is the cocktail that teaches you balance. If it's too tart, add more syrup. Too sweet, add more lime. The perfect Daiquiri should make you close your eyes and sigh.
History of the Classic Daiquiri
Named after a beach near Santiago de Cuba, the Daiquiri was popularized by American mining engineer Jennings Cox around 1898. Hemingway famously drank them at El Floridita bar in Havana, though his version (the Hemingway Daiquiri) was quite different — no sugar, double rum, and maraschino liqueur.
Flavour profile
Tart, Sweet, Clean, Refreshing
Variations
- Hemingway Daiquiri — Add 0.5 oz maraschino + 0.5 oz grapefruit juice, reduce sugar
- Strawberry Daiquiri — Muddle 3 fresh strawberries, blend with ice
- Honey Daiquiri — Replace simple syrup with honey syrup (2:1 honey:water)
Practise making the Classic Daiquiri in the free Virtual Bar game.