If you’re looking for another excuse to drink (and there are plenty!), this Thursdau, July 19th is National Daiquiri day. Now what many of you are picturing right now is a slushy, sugary, red drink that comes in a pretty little glass and is usually served at your favorite comfort food chain (Fridays, Chilis, Apple bees) but believe it or not, that isn’t a real daiquiri. I won’t knock you if that’s the version you prefer, but the original daiquiri was very simple and featured only 3 ingredients. The original daiquiri, which was commonly associated with famous author Ernest Hemingway, and President John F. Kennedy was invented by an American mining engineer, named Jennings Cox, who happened to be in Cuba at the time of the Spanish-American War. Originally the drink was served in a tall glass packed with cracked ice. A teaspoon of sugar was poured over the ice and the juice of one or two limes was squeezed over the sugar. Now that’s a daiquiri.
Besides the slushy concoctions you might get at your local bowling alley dive bar, you may run into several different variations on the classic recipes. That’s because The 1935 edition of the La Florida Cocktail Book lists 5 different versions, which were simply referred to as Daiquiri #’s 1,2,3 and 4. #3 and #4 would go on to earn nicknames that many to this day bicker of the actual ingredients for. In addition the book mentions the Hemingway special which essentially is the #3 but frozen. So I guess there is SOME truth behind those sugar slushes so many enjoy. Here are those recipes, give them a try and see which one YOU prefer. You could even make your own variations and create an unofficial #6. Cheers.
