Bold and Refreshing Hemingway Daiquiri
Let me introduce you to a wonderfully refreshing twist on the classic daiquiri: the Hemingway Daiquiri. Thanks to the fresh grapefruit juice, this cocktail is visually striking with its vibrant orange hue.
The flavor profile of the Hemingway Daiquiri is a delightful blend of the sweet cherry notes from maraschino liqueur, which perfectly complement the tart grapefruit, rum, and lime. Traditionally, Hemingway himself preferred this cocktail without any sugar syrup, making for a more tart and bold experience.
However, since most people enjoy a sweeter cocktail, I’ve included sugar syrup in the recipe for you. Of course, you can always skip the syrup if you want to savor this cocktail, just as Hemingway did!
🎥 Video
🥘 Ingredients
- White Rum: Choose a high-quality white rum for the best results. Some excellent options include Bacardi Superior, Flor de Caña 4-Year-Old Extra Seco, or Havana Club 3-Year-Old. These rums offer a smooth, balanced flavor that pairs perfectly with the citrusy notes of this cocktail.
- Maraschino Liqueur: This liqueur brings a sweet cherry flavor to the drink, enhancing its complexity. For more information on choosing the right maraschino liqueur, check out our detailed blog post on maraschino liqueur.
- Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice: Fresh lime juice is essential for a bright, zesty flavor. For tips on how to get the most juice from your limes, see our blog post on fresh lime juice.
- Grapefruit Juice: Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice provides a vibrant, tart component. If you enjoy this juice, try our La Paloma cocktail recipe for another delicious option.
- Sugar Syrup: For the best results, use homemade sugar syrup to control the sweetness level. Learn how to make it with our simple syrup guide. Feel free to adjust the amount of sugar syrup to match your preferred sweetness level or omit it entirely for a more authentic Hemingway experience.
- Cubed Ice: Use plenty of cubed ice in the
cocktail shaker to chill your drink quickly and evenly. - Garnish – Grapefruit Wedge: A grapefruit wedge adds a fresh, citrusy touch to your cocktail presentation. Add a maraschino cherry for extra flavor and a pop of color alongside a grapefruit wedge.
See the recipe card for quantities.
🍸 Step-by-Step
🔪 Instructions
Step 1: Squeeze a lime and a grapefruit separately, then set the two juices aside.
Step 2: In a
Step 3: Fill the shaker with ice cubes, close it tightly, and shake well until the mixture is chilled.
Step 4: Take a chilled cocktail glass and strain the cocktail into the glass through a fine-mesh strainer.
Step 5: Garnish with a slice of grapefruit and enjoy your cocktail cold.
💭 Top Tip
Why fine strain a Hemingway Daiquiri?
Fine straining a Hemingway Daiquiri is done to ensure a smooth, silky texture by removing any small ice shards and pulp from the citrus juices.
When you shake the cocktail with ice, tiny ice chips and bits of fruit can end up in the drink, which can dilute the flavor and affect the overall experience.
Using a fine-mesh strainer helps to create a perfectly chilled and well-mixed cocktail with a clean and polished finish, allowing the bright flavors of the ingredients to shine through without any unwanted texture.
💕 Perfect Pairing
- Semolina Cheesecake: This cheesecake’s creamy texture and slight sweetness balance the daiquiri’s tart citrus notes.
- Lemon Sorbet: This light, zesty sorbet enhances the cocktail’s grapefruit and lime flavors while keeping the palate refreshed.
- Fruit Cake Muffins: The rich, fruity flavors of these muffins offer a delightful contrast to the fresh and tangy cocktail.
- Lemon Sugar Cookies: These cookies’ bright lemon flavor matches the daiquiri’s citrusy punch for a refreshing duo.
- Cranberry Bundt Cake: The tartness of cranberries in this cake pairs well with the cocktail’s bold grapefruit and lime notes.
🍸 About the Hemingway Daiquiri Recipe
Ernest Hemingway, the legendary American writer known for his adventurous spirit and love of fine drinks, was a daiquiri fan, but he preferred his own twist on the classic recipe.
The Hemingway Daiquiri, also known as “Papa Doble,” reflects his taste for bold, fresh flavors. Made with white rum, maraschino liqueur, freshly squeezed lime, and grapefruit juice, and traditionally no sugar, this cocktail offers a tart and refreshing taste that perfectly captures Hemingway’s unique style and zest for life. It’s a drink that celebrates both the man and the spirit of adventure he embodied.
🍽 Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker: Check out our detailed blog post on “different types of cocktail shakers.” I am using a “cobbler shaker” for this recipe.
- Lemon Squeezer
- Measuring tools / Jigger / Barspoon
- Cocktail glass
- Fine strainer
🙋🏻 FAQ
A Hemingway Daiquiri is made with white rum, maraschino liqueur, freshly squeezed lime juice, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, and, optionally, a bit of sugar syrup for sweetness. This cocktail is traditionally served cold and garnished with a slice of grapefruit.
The main difference between a Hemingway Daiquiri and a classic Daiquiri is the addition of grapefruit juice and maraschino liqueur in the Hemingway version. While a traditional Daiquiri is made with just white rum, lime juice, and sugar syrup, the Hemingway Daiquiri adds a tart grapefruit flavor and a hint of cherry sweetness from the maraschino liqueur. This combination creates a more complex and less sweet cocktail, reflecting Ernest Hemingway’s preference for a bolder, more citrus-forward drink.
Other Cocktail Recipes for You to Try
- Classic Daiquiri
- Raspberry Daiquiri
- Frozen Raspberry Daiquiri
- Lavender Daiquiri
- Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri
- La Paloma Cocktail
- Martinez Cocktail
- National Daiquiri Day (July 19th)
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Refreshing Hemingway Daiquiri Recipe
Equipment
- Cocktail Glass
Ingredients
- 2 oz White rum
- ½ oz Maraschino liqueur
- ¾ oz Lime juice freshly squeezed
- ½ oz Grapefruit juice freshly squeezed
- 1 barspoon Sugar syrup
- Cubed ice
- Grapefruit slice garnish
Instructions
- Squeeze a lime and a grapefruit separately, and set the juices aside.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine 2 oz White rum, ½ oz Maraschino liqueur, ¾ oz Lime juice, and ½ oz Grapefruit juice. Add 1 barspoon Sugar syrup if desired.2 oz White rum, ½ oz Maraschino liqueur, ¾ oz Lime juice, ½ oz Grapefruit juice, 1 barspoon Sugar syrup
- Fill the shaker with Cubed ice, close it securely, and shake well until thoroughly chilled.Cubed ice
- Strain the cocktail into a chilled glass using a fine-mesh strainer.
- Garnish with a Grapefruit slice and serve immediately, enjoying the cocktail cold.Grapefruit slice
Video
Nutrition
⛑️ Food Safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
For further information, check Safe Food Handling – FDA.
So refreshing and sippable!!! We loved this margarita recipe!
Thank you, Liz!
Love how this Hemingway Daiquiri beautifully balances sweet and tart flavors! Try adding a sugar syrup and it’s just chef’s kiss for a cocktail!
Awesome! Thank you, DK!
This is delciious and rfreshing daiquir, Both of us, husband and I enjoyed this wonderful drink.
That is so wonderful to hear! Thank you, Swathi!
Like Hemingway, I’m a daiquiri fan! I think this is one of the best daiquiri versions I know.
That is so awesome! Thank you, Jacqueline!
Thank you for sharing this recipe!
You are most welcome, Criss!