CLASSIC DAIQUIRI COCKTAIL

The classic Daiquiri is unusual in terms of cocktail history because there isn’t clear documentation of who invented it, and when. The first-ever recipe was recorded by an American living in Cuba named Jennings Cox, in 1896.

Legend has it that he ran out of gin so substituted it for rum, which was much more readily available in Cuba, and he mixed it with lime and sugar. Most historians agree that although Cox was the first person to write down the recipe, some form of the Daiquiri has probably been drunk for several decades; because lime and sugar were so abundant on the island, it’s likely they would have been mixed with rum and drank by locals, and by sailors to ward off scurvy. The rum cocktail made its way to America in the early 1900s, and by the 50s Daiquiris were a staple at cocktail parties.

Classic Daiquiris are traditionally made with white rum. All of our daiquiri recipes feature the white rum Havana Club 3 Años, which has a pale-yellow tint that comes from its three years of aging in ex bourbon barrels. This rum has a fresh, vibrant profile that’s ideal for most traditional Cuban cocktails, with notes of citrus, sugarcane, and tropical fruit.

•  Hemingway Daiquiri. Ernest Hemingway was a regular purveyor of Cuban bars, and the story goes that he requested a classic daiquiri with less sugar, due to his diabetes, and double the rum. Today’s version of the Hemingway daiquiri usually contains maraschino liqueur and grapefruit juice.
•  Frozen Daiquiris. Frozen Daiquiris became very popular in the 1940s in America, where they could be dispensed from a machine. Made with blended ice, they were, and still are, synonymous with hot, sunny days and beach-side tiki bars.
•  Fruit Daiquiris. Like many rum cocktails, Daiquiris can be given a twist with fruit. Strawberries, mango, pineapple, passionfruit, banana, and watermelon can all be added. Fresh fruit is most commonly used, but frozen fruit, juice, or syrups can also add flavour.

All of our rums are produced by our Maestros del Ron Cubano: master rum makers who undergo years of rigorous training and study. Each Havana Club rum represents its Cuban home and heritage, including the landscape, music, nature, culture, and history. Cuba has all the qualities needed to make the most perfect rum, from fertile soil to sunny weather, rich sugarcane, and the passion of everyone involved in the rum-making process.