The Classic Daiquiri

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The original daiquiri is an extremely simple recipe that requires just three common ingredients. It is also one of the freshest drinks you can make and an essential rum cocktail everyone should know and taste. 

For the best daiquiri, use quality ingredients, including premium rum, fresh lime juice, and homemade simple syrup. A well-made daiquiri should have a nice balance of sweet and sour and can be adjusted to your personal taste. Once you find your ideal mix, you will become a believer that those sugary-tart bottled daiquiris have no place in the bar.

The daiquiri is a classic rum sour drink, and—much like the martini and margarita—it has also developed into a subfamily of drinks. Many variations take on a variety of flavors, and it's often blended with ice as well.

Classi Daiquiri Cocktail

The Spruce Eats / Madhumita Sathishkumar

"The daiquiri is one of the most misunderstood cocktails that exists. Just three ingredients with no fruit (other than lime) and no blender. Proper balance, fresh lime juice, and a decent white rum are key." —Tom Macy

The classic daiquiri in a glass on a wooden surface
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients to make a classic daiquiri cocktail

    The Spruce Eats / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  2. Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Shake well.

    A hand pouring lime juice into a cocktail shaker

    The Spruce Eats / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Serve and enjoy.

    A hand pouring a classic daiquiri into a chilled cocktail glass

    The Spruce Eats / Madhumita Sathishkumar

Tips

  • If your drink is a bit too tart, add more syrup. If it is too sweet, add more lime. Additionally, the simple syrup you use will play a role; with a rich (2:1) simple syrup, you won't need as much as a daiquiri made with a 1:1 syrup.
  • Though a daiquiri isn't usually garnished, a lime wedge or twisted lime peel is a good option.
  • Like many classic cocktails, the daiquiri is designed to be a short, neat drink, which is why the final volume is only 3 ounces. Considering its strength, this is not a bad thing. You can certainly double the recipe or serve it on the rocks if you like.

How Strong Is a Daiquiri?

This is not the lightest drink. With an 80-proof rum, the average daiquiri has an alcohol content of 20 percent alcohol by volume (40 proof). One too many can easily sneak up on you. Flavored daiquiris tend to be lower proof thanks to the introduction of additional nonalcoholic ingredients like strawberries, bananas, or additional fruit juice.

A Little Daiquiri History

The daiquiri is thought to have been developed in the late 1800s in Cuba. The name comes from a small town of the same name near Santiago. It was either created as a medicinal treatment or in a "there's no whiskey or gin around... time to doctor up the local rum" type of scenario. As is often the case with cocktails, there's really no way to know for sure which is the truth. Both renditions likely have some factual elements.

Probably the most famous daiquiri lover was Ernest Hemingway. He also happens to have a variation named after him. The aptly named Hemingway daiquiri adds grapefruit and maraschino liqueur to the mix, and it is another fantastic drink worth trying out.

Recipe Variations

  • The frozen lime daiquiri is the most basic daiquiri variation. It simply tosses the same three ingredients into a blender with ice. Add whatever fruits you have on hand to give it a quick twist.
  • The strawberry daiquiri is the most popular frozen version. It is also a great shaken cocktail if you're not in the mood to fire up the blender.
  • The banana daiquiri is another timeless favorite that is a lot of fun at summer parties. It also serves as inspiration for the tasty banana daiquiri jello shot.
  • You can do some amazing things with a daiquiri base and a few extra ingredients. The rhubarb-rosemary daiquiri, for example, adds rosemary syrup and fresh rhubarb juice to the mix. Likewise, the daiquir-ease recipe uses lavender honey and a blueberry shrub.

What is the difference between a margarita and a daiquiri?

Both tart and refreshing classic drinks, there are two main differences between a margarita and a daiquiri. A margarita is typically made with tequila, while a daiquiri is made using rum. And while a daiquiri contains rum, lime juice, and simple syrup, a margarita contains tequila, lime juice, and triple sec (an orange liqueur).

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
140 Calories
0g Fat
12g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 140
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 12g 4%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 10g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 7mg 35%
Calcium 3mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 28mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)