Hemingway Daiquiri recipe
Hemingway's personal recipe — double the rum, no sugar, extra grapefruit. The man knew what he wanted.
Method: Shake ·
Glass: Coupe ·
Time: 2 min ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Family: The Daiquiri Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz White Rum (Havana Club or Banks 5 Island)
- 0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 0.5 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
- 0.5 oz Maraschino Liqueur (Luxardo)
How to make a Hemingway Daiquiri
- Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
- Shake hard for 12-15 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled coupe.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
Garnish
Lime wheel or grapefruit twist.
Pro tip
Hemingway's actual version had no sugar at all and double rum. That's basically undrinkable for most people. Modern versions add a touch of maraschino for sweetness. If it's too tart for you, add a barspoon of simple syrup — no shame in that.
History of the Hemingway Daiquiri
Ernest Hemingway was a regular at El Floridita bar in Havana, Cuba. He reportedly told the bartender the regular daiquiri was too sweet and had too little rum. His version — the Papa Doble — used double rum, grapefruit, maraschino, and no sugar. He allegedly drank 16 in one sitting.
Flavour profile
Tart, Grapefruit, Dry, Complex
Variations
- Papa Doble — The true Hemingway: 3.5 oz rum, no sugar at all
- Frozen Hemingway — Blend with ice for a slushy version
- Hemingway with Honey — Use honey syrup instead of maraschino for a softer drink
Practise making the Hemingway Daiquiri in the free Virtual Bar game.