The word “Daiquiri” used to conjure images of the flamboyant, artificial fruit variety, garnished with at least one umbrella, a plastic swizzle stick and, if you’re lucky, a real strawberry. But at its core, the famous drink relies on the most straightforward of templates: rum, lime and sweetener. And for bartenders who have mastered its classic forms as well as those who have put novel spins on the drink, the dictum that simplicity is best still rings true.
By now, many are familiar with the drink’s three calling cards—Daiquiris Nos. 1 through 3, each building on the three-ingredient classic—a small canon identified in the early 20th century by Constante Ribalaigua of El Floridita bar in Havana. For a look at the many variations the originals have inspired, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite Daiquiri recipes.
Daiquiri Clasico
The classic cuban Daiquiri served at Cafe La Trova made with white sugar—not simple syrup.
St. John Frizell’s Hemingway Daiquiri
Shaking with a swath of grapefruit peel adds brightness to this winning recipe.
Daiquiri Frappé
An extra-citrusy take on the classic frappé calls on lime juice and lime zest.
The Smoke Also Rises
A Hemingway Daiquiri variation featuring smoked rhubarb amaro.
Greta Garbo
A Daiquiri riff that adds a few dashes of absinthe to the classic spec.
Daq Attack
A kiwi-tinged take on the Daiquiri made with two kinds of rum.
Pandan-quiri
The Daiquiri gets perfumed with tropical pandan.
Banana Daiquiri
Fresh banana joins banana liqueur and a two-rum blend.
Strawberry Daiquiri
This pink-hued drink is a summer-ready twist on the classic.
Daiquiri Menta
A blended mint Daiquiri, equally at home in New Orleans as it is in Havana.
Clarified Pineapple Daiquiri
A silkier take on the tropical staple.
Eggnog Daiquiri
Manolito's nuanced take on the New Orleans holiday staple.
Nuclear Daiquiri
A cult cocktail adds green Chartreuse to the classic rum recipe.
Sesame Daiquiri
Adapted from the Playboy Host & Bar Book (1971), this recipe gets the addition of sesame seed syrup.
Paddington
A Hemingway Daiquiri variation made with orange marmalade, Paddington Bear’s treat of choice.
Hey Baby, Que Paso?
An amaro-spiked snaquiri.
Matt Piacentini’s Sherry Daiquiri
A small measure of oloroso sherry adds complexity to this Daiquiri variation.
Key Lime Daiquiri
Key lime, swapped for the more typical Persian lime, adds intrigue to this drink.
Nico de Soto’s Pineapple Daiquiri
A winning recipe built on a base of three rums.
Dry Daiquiri
A London-born modern classic introducing Campari and passion fruit to the Daiquiri.
