Cocktail Recipes

La Floridita Daiquiri

La Floridita Daiquiri

La Floridita Daiquiri

  • 1 1/2 ounces rum
  • 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 ounce simple syrup
  • 1/4 ounce maraschino liqueur
  • Splash of fresh grapefruit juice
  • Lime wedge for garnish

Combine liquid ingredients in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake until cold, and then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the lime wedge.

This is a “Hemingway-style” daiquiri, named after the ones Ernest Hemingway used to drink at La Floridita, Havana. For a more traditional daiquiri, omit the grapefruit and maraschino liqueur. Blend it with fruit at your own risk.

Speaking of blending, anyone who enjoys the blended fruit slushy-type things commonly served as daiquiris really owes it to themselves to try a traditional daiquiri just once. Daiquiris get a bad rap from people who only know the frozen variety but they’re really a very good drink when made properly. This version in particular is excellent.

Hemingway statue at La Floridita, Havana. Photo by Mike Castleman.

I really should have made these with the Havana Club rum I had recently but, alas, there’s none left and Cuban rum is a bit hard to come by in the US.

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Posted by Kenn Wilson

More articles by Kenn.

Discussion

5 comments for “La Floridita Daiquiri”

  1. It is unlikely that the Hemingway version of this daquiri contained the symple syrup, since EH was a diabetic and did not take sugar in his cocktails. It is still a delicious cocktail either way.

    Posted by Chris | August 8, 2008, 1:11 pm
  2. Well, you know, you’ve got to take liberties once in awhile to get a better tasting drink.

    Posted by Kenn | August 8, 2008, 3:34 pm
  3. Actually, that is correct…it did not use sugar or syrup. I have an copy of the original recipe book from La Floridita for “E. Hemingway” Special:

    2 ounces Bacardi
    1 tsp grapefruit juice
    1 tsp Marroschino
    Juice of half a lemon
    Frappe ice
    Shake well and serve frappe

    Posted by Joe | November 6, 2008, 6:51 am
  4. P.S. - It’s also important to note there are various Daiquiri variations served at La Floridita, so the reciepe you posted is one of them and is correct, but it is the Floridita Special. I can send you a scan from the book of all the recipes. Incidentally…all original La Floridita Daiquris call for Bacardi.

    Posted by Joe | November 6, 2008, 6:55 am
  5. Joe: A scan would be fantastic, I’d like to see it. Thanks!

    Posted by Kenn | November 6, 2008, 11:48 am

Post a comment

  • Fields marked with a * are required.
  • Your e-mail address will not be published or spammed.
  • Allowed HTML: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Subscribe

Recent Comments

Advertise on Cocktailia