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.
Havana
Nevada
Plantation
Mojito
The Daiquiri
Comments 10 Comments So Far
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.
Well, you know, you’ve got to take liberties once in awhile to get a better tasting drink.
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
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.
Joe: I’d be grateful if you would send me a scan of the Floridita “book of all the recipes”. Mahalo/Peace, Nick
Joe: A scan would be fantastic, I’d like to see it. Thanks!
Check out our episode on The Floridita here:
http://www.smallscreennetwork.com/video/24/el_floridita/
Let us know what you think. Thanks!
We use Flor de Cana, we find the current incarnation of B*cardi is too vodka like for us. Or go to the Underhill Lounge blog, ‘cuban cocktail’ to see what Jeff Berry has to say.
We found 8 different recipes for the la floridita #3, including the reprint of the bar’s publication. Apparently the drink was originally shaken with crushed ice, than later they used a milk-shake type mixer to mix them.
‘lemon’ is usually considered a mis-translation of ‘limon verde’ – green lemon – which is a lime. There is a great article on Hemingway & his daiquiris on the WJS online – Eric Felten. Anyway, our favorite of the 8 sets of ratios is published on our blog, no sugar, thanks!
Great writeup on the Floridita daiquiris, and using more maraschino in place of sugar is a good idea. I’ll have to try that.
Yo. Hemingway was no pussy. Try the version I have had many times , each happily. 3 rum, 1 fresh lime, 1 fresh grapefruit, 3/4 Luxardo. Oh, the happiness. Heavy? Yes. E.H. was was a seriously wonderful booozeman. Makes the others look like candy corn.