Hemingway Daiquiri, A Classic Rum Cocktail

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Daiquiris are underrated and completely misunderstood cocktails. Forget the idea of a super sweet, blended drink and try this uniquely flavored Hemingway Daiquiri.

Writer Ernest Hemingway famously loved rum, but not sugar. The story of how his namesake daiquiri came to be originates at El Floridita, the Havana bar where Hemingway saw the bartender pouring a batch of classic, blended daiquiris and declared them good but too sweet and in need of more rum.

We don’t know exactly why Hemingway left the sweetener out of his drinks. But we do know that he requested his rum with lime and grapefruit, and skipped the sugar - hence the Hemingway Daiquiri, which is also known as a papa doble.

Without sugar, this is one TART drink. There are lots of Hemingway Daiquiri variations, and for mine I add sugar. I tried lots of recipes and worked on the various portions of ingredients in this classic cocktail for months before realizing that the only way I was ever going to like it was to add sugar. (Sorry not sorry, Ernest.)

Adding sugar in a cocktail is a lot like adding salt while cooking - it’s usually necessary. And just like salt, a little sugar goes a long way. In this drink, I wanted to balance out the two tart citrus fruits and Luxardo maraschino liqueur, which is pretty dry. The addition of simple syrup enhances the drink while keeping the original flavor profile intact.

What You Need

White rum
A lime
A grapefruit
Simple syrup
Luxardo maraschino liqueur

How to Make a Hemingway Daiquiri

Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

Rum pouring into a cocktail shaker — Adding rum

Grapefruit juice pouring into a cocktail shaker — Adding grapefruit juice

Shake well for 10-15 seconds.

Strain into a Nick and Nora or small coupe glass.

Garnish with a lime wheel.

Enjoy!

Tips on Hemingway Daiquiri

What kind of rum should I use?

This is a white or light rum drink. Use the clear rum here. Bacardi is my go-to.

Can I use bottled lime juice and/or bottled grapefruit juice?

This 5 ingredient drink will taste so much better if you use fresh fruit juice for 2 of its ingredients. Squeeze a lime and a grapefruit for this drink.

Where do I buy simple syrup?

Make your own! Combine ½ cup of hot water with ½ cup of white sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved, then put the syrup in the refrigerator to cool. Be sure to wait until the simple syrup is cold to use it in your cocktail or it’ll melt too much ice and create a watery drink. Simple syrup will keep in the refrigerator for at least 3 weeks. (If it becomes cloudy, discard it immediately.)

What can I use instead of Luxardo maraschino liqueur?

Nothing. There’s no substitute for the Luxardo maraschino liqueur and it’s a key element in this drink. So if you leave it out, you’ll have a great daiquiri, but not a Hemingway Daiquiri. Luxardo is the only brand making this liqueur and with its distinctive taste, it’s not a spirit you’re likely to use a lot of. Buy it in the 375ml size to keep costs low. If you’re making this drink for the first time and can find Luxardo maraschino liqueur in the 2 oz “airline bottle” size, even better.