written by Jake
Rum, lime juice, sugar. That’s all it takes to make one of the most classic cocktails of all time. Invented right around the start of the 20th century in a town of the same name in Cuba, the Daiquiri is the perfect drink for a hot, humid day. Legend has it that the drinks inventor, Stockton Cox, invented it when he ran out of gin but didn’t want to serve his guests straight rum. The addition of lime juice and sugar helped to smooth out the flavors of the rum and the rest is history. Now while the Daiquiri is ideal for hot weather, there’s certainly no reason that this delicious beverage can’t be enjoyed anytime of the year, even in a Minnesota winter. While the original recipe (which we’ll share below) is delicious on its own, a couple of simple tweaks can turn this drink into a complex, winter cocktail. Enjoy!
THE ORIGINAL DAIQUIRI
- 2oz White Rum – Any white rum that you enjoy will do, but we like Plantation 3 Star for its complexity and price point.
- 1oz Fresh Lime Juice – Fresh citrus juices are always the first choice but the bottled stuff will still make a good drink.
- 0.75oz Simple Syrup – Traditionally a Demerara syrup is used (Liber & Co. make a good one), but truthfully any simple syrup will work.
Add all your ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake hard until well chilled (frost will form on the outside of your shaker, that’s a good indication that it’s been shaken enough). Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a lime wheel.
GINGER RIFF DAIQUIRI
- 2oz Plantation Dark Rum – Once again, any dark rum you enjoy will do, but Plantation Dark Rum is excellent and is a great price.
- 0.75oz Fresh Lime Juice – See above.
- 0.25oz Liber & Co Ginger Syrup – Ginger syrup will add both sweetness, as well as spice.
- 0.5oz St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram – This liqueur is a favorite of F44 employees. With notes of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, and black pepper, this is what’s going to transform this drink into a winter classic. We recommend starting on the lower end of the measurement and increasing the amount from there if you want more of the Allspice flavor.
- 4 dashes Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters
As above, add all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake hard. Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a lime wheel, or, if you’re feeling fancy, express the oils from a grapefruit peel over the top of the drink.
