Santiago de Cuba, Cuba · 1898

Daiquiri

Also known as Classic Daiquiri, Santiago Daiquiri, Daiquiri No.1

A crisp, tart rum sour that hits you with bright lime and a clean, dry finish.

limerumtartrefreshingcrispcitrussoursummertropical

ABV

Difficulty

Overview

What this drink is like

The first sip is sharp and lime-heavy, backed by the grassy sweetness of rum. The middle softens as the sugar balances the acid, leaving a clean, slightly fruity warmth on the finish.

Who will like it

For people who like tart, refreshing, spirit-driven drinks without heavy sweetness or bitter notes.

When to drink

Drink this on a hot afternoon or as a sharp opener before dinner.

Ordering tip

Ask for it 'not too sweet' if you want to make sure the bartender doesn't pour heavy on the syrup.

Ice: NoneTemp: ColdCost: $1–$3Glass: CoupeBatch-friendlyMake aheadHome bar friendly

Flavor

Taste profile

A Daiquiri is a sharp, refreshing slap of lime and rum. It leans tart, with just enough sugar to soften the edges, and goes down crisp and clean. You taste the bright citrus first, then the grassy rum, and it finishes dry without any lingering weight.

Finish: The finish is short and clean, leaving a lingering tartness and a faint warmth from the rum.

Primary tastes

soursweetfruity

Secondary

earthyfloral

Aroma

lime zestcane sugarlight rum

Sweetnessbalanced sweetness
The simple syrup takes the edge off the lime without making the drink sugary.
Sournesstart
Fresh lime juice gives the drink a sharp, mouth-puckering backbone.
Strengthmoderately strong
The rum makes its presence known through the citrus, giving a solid buzz.
Refreshingvery refreshing
The combination of cold, citrus, and light rum makes this incredibly thirst-quenching.
Complexitystraightforward
It's a simple three-ingredient equation of rum, lime, and sugar.

Recipe

Make it at home

Shaken · Coupe · equal parts on White Rum. A clean, unaged or lightly aged white rum works best.

Before you start

Stick your coupe glass in the freezer for a few minutes if you have time, and make sure your lime is fresh.

Ingredients

White RumBase SpiritA clean, unaged or lightly aged white rum works best.60ml
Fresh Lime JuiceJuiceMust be freshly squeezed; bottled lime juice tastes flat.30ml
Simple SyrupSyrupA 1:1 ratio of sugar to water; adjust up to 30ml if you like it sweeter.20ml
Lime WheeloptionalGarnish1 piece

Garnish: Lime Wheel

Tools

Jigger · Measuring
Measuring the rum, lime, and syrup accurately.
At home: Small measuring cup or shot glass with markings.
Cocktail Shaker · Shaking
Shaking the ingredients with ice to chill and dilute.
At home: Mason jar with a tight lid.
Hawthorne Strainer · Straining
Catching the ice while pouring the drink out.
At home: Slotted spoon pressed against the jar opening.
Coupe Glass · Serving
Serving the chilled drink without ice.
At home: Any small stemmed glass or wine glass.
Fine Strainer · optional · Straining
Catching small ice shards and lime pulp.
At home: Tea strainer or small wire mesh sieve.

Steps

1
Measure out 60ml of white rum, 30ml of fresh lime juice, and 20ml of simple syrup using your jigger. Pour all three into your cocktail shaker.
!Using bottled lime juice will make the drink taste metallic and flat.
2
Fill the shaker about three-quarters full with ice cubes. Close the shaker tightly so it doesn't leak when you shake.
!Using too little ice means the drink won't get cold enough before the ice melts.
3
Shake the shaker hard for about 10 to 12 seconds. You'll know you're done when the outside of the metal shaker feels frosty and almost too cold to hold.
~12s
!Shaking too gently or too briefly leaves the drink lukewarm and under-diluted.
4
Take the top off the shaker and pour the drink through a Hawthorne strainer into your chilled coupe glass. Hold a fine strainer over the glass if you want to catch any small ice chips or lime pulp.
!Letting ice shards fall into the glass waters down the drink quickly.
5
Place a lime wheel on the rim of the glass or drop it right into the drink. Serve it right away while it's still ice cold.

Serve

Serve straight up in a chilled coupe without ice, and drink it before it warms up.

Variations

Ingredient substitutions

Each row shows what you can swap in place of an original ingredient, and how the drink changes.

Swap options for White Rum

White RumAged Rum
Match
Common availability
White Rum → Aged Rum: Adds vanilla, oak, and a richer, heavier body to the drink.
White RumCachaça
Match
Common availability
White Rum → Cachaça: Brings a funkier, grassy, earthy flavor that turns it into a Batida-style drink.

Swap options for Simple Syrup

Simple SyrupDemerara Syrup
Match
Specialty availability
Simple Syrup → Demerara Syrup: Adds a deep, molasses-like richness that pairs well with aged rum.
Simple SyrupAgave Nectar
Match
Common availability
Simple Syrup → Agave Nectar: Gives a lighter, more floral sweetness compared to cane sugar.

Similar cocktails

Cousin drinks that share DNA with this one — each profile stands on its own.

Similar cocktail

Gimlet

A Gimlet uses gin instead of rum, adding herbal and juniper notes.

Match

The Gimlet drinks much drier and more aromatic due to the gin, while the Daiquiri is rounder and fruitier.

In common: shaken, sour, citrus-forward, short drink

Ingredients

Both share

Fresh Lime Juice, Simple Syrup

Only in Daiquiri

White Rum

Only in Gimlet

Gin

Swapping rum for gin changes the base entirely, moving from grassy sweetness to herbal dryness.

Flavor

Shared flavors

sharp lime backbone, crisp and refreshing, balanced sweet-sour profile

How Gimlet differs

herbal and pine notes, drier finish

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Margarita

A Margarita uses tequila and orange liqueur instead of rum and simple syrup.

Match

The Margarita is earthier and slightly more complex from the orange liqueur, while the Daiquiri is cleaner and more focused on the pure rum-lime interaction.

In common: shaken, sour, citrus-forward, short drink

Ingredients

Both share

Fresh Lime Juice

Only in Daiquiri

White Rum, Simple Syrup

Only in Margarita

Tequila, Orange Liqueur, Salt

The orange liqueur adds a fruity depth and the tequila adds earthy agave notes, replacing the straightforward rum and sugar sweetness.

Flavor

Shared flavors

bright lime tartness, refreshing chill

How Margarita differs

earthier agave flavor, orange peel notes, salty rim

View recipe & details →

Similar cocktail

Whiskey Sour

Uses bourbon or rye whiskey and lemon juice instead of rum and lime.

Match

The Whiskey Sour is a heavier, warming drink with a broader flavor, whereas the Daiquiri is crisp, sharp, and refreshing.

In common: sour family, shaken, short drink

Ingredients

Both share

Simple Syrup

Only in Daiquiri

White Rum, Fresh Lime Juice

Only in Whiskey Sour

Bourbon Whiskey, Lemon Juice, Egg White, Angostura Bitters

The base spirit and citrus both change, and the Whiskey Sour often includes egg white for texture, which the Daiquiri lacks.

Flavor

Shared flavors

sweet and sour balance, spirit-forward

How Whiskey Sour differs

warmer and richer, lemon instead of lime, possible velvety texture from egg white

View recipe & details →

History

Origin

The drink is widely credited to American mining engineer Jennings Cox, who supposedly mixed rum, lime, and sugar in Santiago de Cuba around 1898. However, some historians argue that Cuban locals were already drinking similar rum and lime mixtures long before Cox gave it the English name.

Creator: Jennings Cox
Era: 1890s
IBA: The Unforgettables
Data version: IBA 2020 spec
Confidence

The exact ratio of lime to syrup varies by preference; IBA specifies 30ml lime and 30ml syrup, but modern palates often prefer less sugar.

Practical

Tips & pitfalls

What works at home and what to skip when making this drink.

Tips

Worth knowing before you pour

Shake hard to get good dilution and a frosty chill.
Taste your lime juice first; adjust syrup if the limes are extra sour.
Use a light hand with the syrup to keep the drink crisp.

Avoid

Common mistakes

Don't use bottled lime juice, it ruins the drink.
Don't skip the shaking step, stirring won't chill it enough.
Don't over-pour the syrup or it will taste like limeade.