Classic Rum Daiquiri: No blender required!

What do you think of when you hear the word “daiquiri”? Is it a sweet blended drink, possibly bright pink, with an umbrella garnish? That’s what I thought too, but as it turns out, a classic rum daiquiri is a very simple drink. In fact, it’s a lot like a margarita, my absolute favorite cocktail. This classic recipe balances sweet, tart, and rum flavors into one tasty beverage. I have actually been wanting to share a daiquiri recipe for a Friday Happy Hour post for a while now, but other ideas kept shoving their way to the front of the line. As luck would have it, I was recently contacted by Real McCoy Spirits and offered a bottle of their premium sipping rum to sample. Never one to turn down booze (that’s just plain rude, right?), I eagerly accepted their generous offer. Since the rum really shines in this daiquiri recipe, it was made for an award-winning spirit like this one. The Real McCoy didn’t disappoint, making for a smooth and very drinkable daiquiri.

What is a Daiquiri?

A daiquiri is one of the oldest classic rum cocktails. The cocktail originated in the Caribbean during the 1700s when sailors would combine rum, lime juice, cane sugar, and water to make grog, which was used to help fight scurvy. This drink slowly evolved over time and the recipe we know today is said to have originated in the Cuban village named none other than Daiquiri. The recipe eventually made its way to the USA, where it was further popularized and has since taken on numerous variations, including the sweet blended strawberry daiquiri cocktail.

Ingredients in a classic rum daiquiri cocktail

The classic daiquiri cocktail uses only three ingredients. It is the simplicity of this cocktail that makes it so great. All three of the ingredients shine and combine to make an extremely delicious and refreshing cocktail.

• light rum
• lime juice
• simple syrup or demerara syrup

Daiquiri making tips

This daiquiri recipe is extremely simple. The key is to use quality ingredients to ensure the right flavors. For the rum a light rum is recommended so that the molasses flavor is subtle. Use fresh squeezed lime juice. It is worth the little bit of extra work to juice the limes using a hand juicer right at the time of making the cocktail. For the simple syrup you can use a regular simple syrup or for a slightly richer flavor use Demerara syrup, which is made with a raw sugar.

Daiquiri Recipe Variations

Now that you have tried this classic daiquiri recipe you can make some variations based on your personal preferences. What I love about classic cocktail recipes is they are great on their own or can easily be adapted and become something completely new.

• Spicy Daiquiri – for this variation I like to add a few freshly sliced jalapeno rings to the cocktail before shaking and then you can garnish it with another ring or two along with a little sprinkle of chili powder.
• Grapefruit Daiquiri – simply swap the lime juice for grapefruit juice for an easy citrus variation.
• Pineapple Daiquiri – use 1.5oz of pineapple juice and 0.5oz of lime juice with the same amounts of rum and simple syrup for a sweeter tropical tasting daiquiri.
• Rich Dark Rum Daiquiri – use a dark or aged rum with a nice molasses flavor. For something extra rich you can use Goslings Black Seal Rum and then use a Demerara syrup instead of simple syrup. This variation will have a really nice rich caramel, vanilla, and molasses flavor.

Classic Rum Daiquiri: No blender required!

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A classic daiquiri is nothing more than rum, lime juice, and sugar perfectly balanced in this tasty cocktail.

• Total Time: 3 minutes
• Yield: 1 1x

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

1. 1 1/2 oz. premium rum like The Real McCoy
2. 1 oz. fresh lime juice
3. 1 tbsp. simple syrup see notes for instructions

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Instructions

1. Fill a small rocks glass with ice, and place in freezer to chill.
2. In a cocktail shaker, combine rum, lime juice, and simple syrup. Add a few ice cubes, and shake well.
3. Strain mixed cocktail over ice in chilled glass an enjoy. (Alternatively, you can strain this into a chilled martini glass without the ice if you prefer.)

Notes

To make simple syrup: Combine 2 parts sugar to 1 part water (for example, 1/2 c. sugar and 1/4 c. water) in a microwavable glass measuring cup. Heat for 1-2 minutes, and stir until sugar is dissolved completely. Set aside to cool before using. (Simple syrup can be stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator for about two weeks.)

• Author: Andi
• Prep Time: 3
• Category: Cocktail