Hemingway Daiquiri
Alessandro Scire CalabrisottoShare
Tart, bracingly dry and steeped in literary legend, the Hemingway Daiquiri is the sophisticated cousin of the classic daiquiri. Born in a Havana bar and named for one of the twentieth century's most famous drinkers, it trades sweetness for grapefruit and maraschino — a cocktail with a sharp tongue and an even sharper story.
History of the Hemingway Daiquiri
The Hemingway Daiquiri traces its origins to El Floridita, the storied Havana bar where head bartender Constantino Ribalaigua Vert reigned over the daiquiri's golden age in the early twentieth century. Ernest Hemingway, a devoted patron during his years in Cuba, famously preferred his daiquiris without sugar and with a double measure of rum — a preference that gave rise to the legendary order known as the “Papa Doble.”
The version that became the modern Hemingway Daiquiri softens that austere original with grapefruit juice and maraschino liqueur, balancing the writer's no-sugar demand with just enough nuance to make it drinkable for the rest of us. The drink stands as a tribute both to El Floridita's craftsmanship and to Hemingway's outsized appetite for life — and for rum.
Recipe: How to Make a Classic Hemingway Daiquiri
Ingredients:
- 60 ml (2 oz) white rum
- 15 ml (0.5 oz) fresh lime juice
- 15 ml (0.5 oz) fresh grapefruit juice
- 15 ml (0.5 oz) maraschino liqueur
Instructions:
- Add the white rum, lime juice, grapefruit juice and maraschino liqueur to a cocktail shaker.
- Fill the shaker with ice and shake hard for around 12 to 15 seconds until thoroughly chilled.
- Double-strain into a chilled coupe glass to remove ice shards and pulp.
- Garnish with a lime wheel or twist and serve immediately.
Tips for Perfection:
- Always use freshly squeezed lime and grapefruit juice — bottled juice will flatten the bright, citrus-forward character.
- Choose a clean, light-bodied white rum so the maraschino and grapefruit can shine through.
- Shake vigorously to achieve the proper chill and a touch of dilution, which tames the drink's natural tartness.
Additional Recommendations
Variations:
- Papa Doble: the original double-rum, no-sugar version Hemingway himself favoured.
- Frozen Hemingway: blended with crushed ice for a slushier, El Floridita-style serve.
- Pink grapefruit twist: using ruby grapefruit for a slightly sweeter, rosier finish.
Pairings:
- Fresh oysters or ceviche.
- Grilled prawns with a squeeze of lime.
- Salted Marcona almonds or green olives.
Presentation:
- Serve in a chilled coupe to highlight the drink's pale, jewel-like clarity.
- Garnish with a thin lime wheel perched on the rim for a clean, classic look.
Curiosity: A Fun Fact About the Hemingway Daiquiri
Hemingway's legendary capacity was matched by his precision: he reportedly liked his daiquiris so dry that the standard version, with its dash of sugar, would never have passed muster. The grapefruit-and-maraschino balance we enjoy today is, in a sense, a gentler compromise between the writer's iron palate and ordinary mortals.