This classic Cuban daiquiri recipe is a nod to an iconic drink that uses three simple ingredients: white rum, simple syrup, and lime juice. Even better: I’m including the original recipe for the Cuban daiquiri in the recipe card below. (Aside from the Cuban rum, which is…ahem…difficult to find in America. 😅)
One of my favorite parts of crafting homemade cocktails over the last 10 years is learning about the history of the cocktails. Maybe it’s the former teacher in me, but I just love learning about where classic cocktail recipes came from and how they experienced a rise in popularity over the years. As someone who loves a rum-based cocktail, a drink that never goes out of style is the daiquiri.
The original Cuban daiquiri recipe uses granulated sugar. But I played around and decided to make a little change and include demerara sugar syrup, which deepens the flavor of the classic Cuban cocktail.
💕 why you’ll love this Cuban daiquiri recipe
🏛️ classic & timeless. This cocktail has been enjoyed as one of the earliest published drinks since the 1940s, making it a true classic! Before that, it was popular among locals and tourists alike on the beaches and in the bars of Cuba. I don’t know about you, but if it’s perfect for beach drinking, it’s perfect for me! 😎
🎛️ super customizable. While this Cuban daiquiri is a recreation of the historic recipe, it’s incredibly easy to make your own. You can swap out any ingredient in the recipe to make it totally your own!
🤌 refreshing & easy. One reason that the daiquiri is so popular is that it is so easy to make and has a perfect balance of flavor. It only requires three simple ingredients, and it is perfect for any time of year.
📜 History of the Cuban Daiquiri
Just like the mojito, this cocktail has somewhat of a muddled history. 😶🌫️ Sometimes, an American engineer named Jennings Cox is credited with inventing the daiquiri. There is photographic evidence that suggests he was the first to share the recipe with others in America. Sometimes, another American named William Chanler is credited with bringing the popularized recipe to the nightclubs of New York City. And SOMETIMES, another American named Ernest Hemingway is credited with making the daiquiri explode in popularity.
While we may never know the full, true story of the origins of the daiquiri, one thing is crystal clear: it was invented in Cuba. 🇨🇺 The name of the daiquiri comes from the location where this recipe was rumored to be shared: Daiquirí Beach in Cuba.
🛒 ingredients
Original Recipe
The original written daiquiri recipe made a batch large enough for a pitcher.
- white rum – the original recipe calls for Bacardi “Carta Blanca” rum. In today’s terms, that’s the same as Bacardi silver rum.
- lemon juice – that’s right, the original written recipe called for lemon juice, not lime juice! 😱 Limes and lemons were sometimes used interchangeably, and a ripe lime is actually….YELLOW! It’s possible limes were in the original recipe, but lemon is what appears on the recipe card!
- sugar – unlike modern-day daiquiri recipes, the original recipe for a Cuban daiquiri contained granulated sugar. When shaken vigorously in a cocktail shaker, the sugar will dissolve. It is possible that some sugar granules will remain and they will settle in the bottom of the glasses. If you are remaking the classic, you can use granulated white sugar or a darker sugar like demerara sugar.
- mineral water – the original recipe for the Cuban daiquiri contained “2 small cups of mineral water.” This is likely to dilute the “6 Bacardi cups” of carta blanca the recipe called for!
- ice – you’ll need plenty of ice for shaking the cocktails. If you like, you can also serve the cocktails over crushed ice, which is the classic way of the original.
Updated Original
The updated version of the original Cuban daiquiri recipe is super simple and only contains three ingredients. Because of the simplicity quality and freshness are key. If you can, whip up a batch of demerara simple syrup. This syrup is deeper in flavor than a standard simple syrup, playing up the toasty flavors of darker brown sugars. If you can’t find demerara sugar, you can use brown sugar in a pinch!
- white rum – also known as silver rum or blanco rum, this is a rum that is aged for 3 years or less. It doesn’t have any coloring added, naturally from aging in barrels or added coloring. Since it isn’t aged long and has nothing added to it, it is very light in flavor, making it perfect for cocktails where you want fresh ingredients to shine. I like using Bacardi rum or an aged rum from Cuba like Havana Club 7 Year.
- demerara simple syrup – the original daiquiri recipe called for granulated sugar, which was possibly even a darker or less refined sugar like demerara sugar or turbinado sugar. My variation calls for demerara simple syrup instead of sugar granules because it’s so much easier to incorporate into beverages. Demerara simple syrup imparts a deeper, toasty flavor to this daiquiri.
- lime juice – limes tend to be more acidic than lemons, which helps to balance things out in this cocktail that only has alcohol and a liquid sweetener. You can use regular limes or key limes, depending on what you can find. Try your best to use fresh lime juice. Since this cocktail only has a few ingredients, it’s best to use the freshest and highest quality you can find!
🍳 instructions
Step 1: Chill your preferred glass by filling it with ice or placing it in the freezer for up to 30 minutes.
Step 2: Add 1/2 ounce of demerara simple syrup to the cocktail shaker.
Step 3: Juice fresh limes to get 1 ounce of juice. Add the lime juice to the cocktail shaker.
Step 4: Measure out two ounces of rum and pour it into the cocktail shaker.
Step 5: Shake the mixture vigorously to combine all ingredients.
Step 6: Shake the mixture vigorously to combine all ingredients.
Step 7: Strain your daiquiri into a cocktail coupe.
Step 8: Garnish with a dehydrated lime wheel, and serve immediately.
Hint: Want to make a large batch of daiquiris? Simply mix all the ingredients in a pitcher and store it until you’re ready to serve!
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💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
how & when to serve Cuban daiquiris
These daiquiris are perfect for happy hour or a welcome cocktail at a party. They pack quite a punch, so they are best for moments when you can really take your time to sip them. Daiquiris are best over conversations with friends and family!
choose your glass
It’s traditional to serve a daiquiri in a small chilled coupe glass or a small martini glass. If you don’t have either cocktail glass, you can also serve it in a small juice cup. The key is to use a small glass here, because the drink itself is about 4-5 ounces in size, unless you’re making a double. 😏
to ice or not to ice?!
The original Cuban daiquiri was served over whole ice cubes. Over time, the drink evolved to be served over crushed ice. Eventually, it wasn’t served over ice at all. And to make things even more confusing, sometimes it was poured over a molded circle of shaved ice. There are even tales of it being served blended with a small amount of ice. The moral of this story? Serve it however you like!
- large cube – Serve your daquiris over a large cube of ice in a rocks glass for a fun presentation.
- shaved ice molds – Create your own molded bowls of shaved ice and pour your daiquiri overtop for an impressive presentation.
- no ice – Strain into a chilled martini glass for a classic presentation. Small ice chips in the daiquiri are a-okay! They help balance the drink out more as they melt!
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
As mentioned a bajillion times before, the key to this cocktail is simplicity! But that doesn’t mean things can’t go wrong. Citrus in general can be tricky to work with since the flavor can vary so much. Try these troubleshooting tips below if you run into any issues when mixing up your daiquiris!
- too tart – if your Cuban daiquiri is too tart, add in a bit more sweetness with simple syrup or sugar. Using simple syrup makes it easier to tweak the sweetness.
- too strong – this cocktail is a sipper for sure! If you find that it’s too strong for your taste, serve it over crushed or shaved ice to help dilute it. You can also add some mineral water as the original recipe called for, or you can add more juice and simple syrup and less rum.
- too sweet – if your daiquiri is too sweet for your taste, you can add more lime juice or rum to balance things out.
⚖️ scaling tips
This cocktail scales up perfectly for a party! It’s super easy to make a big batch of daiquiris and pour them from a pitcher as your guests arrive. If you are going to be preparing them in advance, make sure to choose a glass that holds the appropriate 4-5 ounces of the cocktail so you aren’t accidentally over-serving your guests.
When I make a batch of daiquiris, I prefer to serve them over crushed ice or shaved ice molds so that the ice dilutes into the cocktails. This is a nice touch because you skip the shaker when you’re making a big batch of daiquiris!
🔆 top tip
Customize your daiquiris to your liking by switching out the regular simple syrup for a flavored simple syrup! You can also swap out the rum from silver to aged rum or dark rum for another variation!
♻️ substitutions & variations
♻️ substitutions
Missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot!
- rum – you can use aged rum or spiced rum in a daiquiri— it’s such a simple cocktail but it has so many possibilities! You can even use a flavored rum or an infused rum for an even more flavorful daiquiri.
- sweetener– if you don’t have demerara simple syrup on hand, you can use regular simple syrup or a rich syrup made with a 2:1 ratio of sugar to water. You can even use agave nectar syrup, honey, or maple syrup in your drinks. Check out this post on the best substitutes for simple syrup for inspiration! You can also make the drink with granulated sugar as noted in the recipe card. Simple syrup mixes more efficiently into the cocktail without leaving any grainy residual sugar behind, making a more balanced cocktail!
- citrus – The original written daiquiri recipe from the archives called for lemon juice instead of lime! The Papa Doble (Spanish for “Papa double,” with a nod to writer Ernest Hemingway’s nickname of “Papa”) called for using grapefruit juice! You can use whatever citrus you like— I love using key lime juice and key lime simple syrup to make an extra limey cocktail! A seasonal variety using blood oranges or Meyer lemons would also be wonderful!
🎛️ variations
Feeling like a rebel?! 😈 Feel free to stray from the recipe card using these variations, or leave me a comment with your own!
- use a different liquor – while daiquiris have rum in them, you can have some fun! Try making a spin on a daiquiri by using vodka, gin, or even tequila in place of rum!
- add a liqueur – a variation of the daiquiri is the Hemingway Daiquiri. This version of a Cuban daiquiri recipe that includes maraschino cherry liqueur like Luxardo and grapefruit juice. You can experiment with your favorite flavors to make a custom daiquiri to your specific tastes! Try using ginger liqueur, orange liqueur, or even peach liqueur!
- use an infused simple syrup – if you’ve been around here a while, you know my love for simple syrups runs deep. Try making a daiquiri with an infused simple syrup to create unique flavor combinations!
- frozen – Instead of shaking it with ice in a cocktail shaker, you can make this cocktail into a classic frozen daiquiri! Pour all the ingredients into the jar of a blender and blending it with a cup of ice.
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🧰 equipment needed
- cocktail shaker – you’ll need a quality cocktail shaker for mixing your daiquiris. I love using this cocktail shaker from Elevated Craft because it is easy to measure liquids in the lid of the shaker. It’s also double-walled, meaning your hands don’t get cold while shaking your cocktails!
- coupe glass – a small coupe glass is the traditional cocktail glass of choice for a Cuban daiquiri. You can also use a small martini glass.
- measuring beakers – I prefer using OXO nesting measuring beakers instead of jiggers because you can use them for so many more recipes aside from drinks. They come in a graduated set perfect for measuring small amounts of liquid.
🫙 storage tips
Since the cocktail uses fresh citrus juice, it’s best to consume it immediately after mixing. You can prepare a batch of daiquiris in advance and store them for up to 24 hours in the fridge, but any longer and the lime juice can get funky. If you want to store them longer, you can pop the cocktail into the freezer door for up to a week. 😉
💬 q+a
How is a Cuban daiquiri different than a regular daiquiri?
The original Cuban daiquiri recipe called for lemon juice and granulated sugar. Most modern day classic daiquiris call for lime juice and simple syrup. Additionally, Cuban daiquiris include Cuban rum, which is not for sale in the United States.
Where can you buy cuban rum in the United States?
It’s not legal to import Cuban rum to the United States as of September 2020. Whenever we go to a tropical island outside the U.S., we like to stop by the duty-free to see if they have any special rums available that are legal to bring home. Rest assured, there are many quality rums available stateside that can be a great stand-in for Cuban rum in this cocktail.
Who invented the Cuban Daiquiri?
Like the mojito, there is a lot of speculation about who invented the Cuban daiquiri. One thing most people agree on is that it was invented on Daiquiri beach and served to mine workers as a refreshing beverage during the hot working day. Many say that the El Floridita bar in Cuba is the birthplace of the daiquiri and Ernest Hemingway’s favorite spot to grab a “Papa Doble” daiquiri.
🍹 History of Bacardi
If you’re like me, you might be confused to see Bacardi in the original written daiquiri recipe. I thought Bacardi was Puerto Rican rum because when I visited Puerto Rico, that’s where we saw the largest distillery! In fact, it’s not just the largest Bacardi distillery: it’s the largest premium rum distillery in the world. 🤯
But Bacardi was actually founded in Cuba! That’s right— it was one of the original Cuban rums available, founded in 1862. Members of the Bacardi family were exiled from Cuba, and they relocated their home to Bermuda. They now have distilleries in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the United States, and Spain.
Interestingly, they are also currently in a legal battle with the Cuban brand Havana Club over the use of the name “Havana Club.” The Bacardi family bought the Havana Club recipe and has been making it since the early 1990s. So, if you see a bottle of “Havana Club” rum for sale in a U.S. bar or restaurant, it is likely from the Bacardi family, not the family still making Cuban Havana Club rum.
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Cuban Daiquiri (Original Daiquiri Recipe & A Revised Classic)
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Equipment
- 1 coupe glass
- 1 pairing knife
- 1 cutting board
- 1 citrus juicer
Ingredients
Original Cuban Daiquiri Recipe
- 2 ounces silver Bacardi rum
- 1 tsp granulated sugar or 1 sugar cube
- 1 ounce lemon juice freshly squeezed from 1 lemon
- 1 ounce mineral water still, not sparkling (such as Evian)
- ice
Updated Cuban Daiquiri Recipe
- 2 ounces silver rum or aged Cuban rum
- 1 ounce lime juice freshly squeezed
- ½ ounce demerara simple syrup up to 1 ounce of syrup based on preferences
- ice to fill cocktail shaker
Instructions
Original Cuban Daiquiri Recipe
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Measure out 2 ounces of rum and pour it into the cocktail shaker.
- Juice a lemon to get 1 ounce of lemon juice (about 1/2 – 1 whole small to medium lemon). Add the lime juice to the cocktail shaker.
- Add 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar to the cocktail shaker.
- Add 1 ounce of mineral water to the shaker.
- Shake the mixture vigorously to combine all ingredients.
- Pour the entire mix into a cocktail coupe and serve immediately.
Updated Cuban Daiquiri Recipe
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Measure out 2 ounces of rum and pour it into the cocktail shaker.
- Juice fresh limes to get 1 ounce of juice. Add the lime juice to the cocktail shaker.
- Add 1/2 ounce of demerara simple syrup to the cocktail shaker.
- Shake the mixture vigorously to combine all ingredients.
- Strain your daiquiri into a cocktail coupe, garnish with a dehydrated lime wheel, and serve immediately.
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
