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| Ruins from the Old Daiquiri Mine |
National
Daiquiri Day July 19! The Daiquiri is said to have been invented by Jennings
Cox, an American mining engineer, who was in Cuba at the time of the
Spanish-American War. The name “Daiquiri” is the name of a beach near Santiago,
Cuba, as well as an iron mine in that area. The drink was originally served in
a tall glass packed with cracked ice. Sugar and lime juice were added over the
ice, with two or three ounces of white rum completing the mixture that was then
stirred with a long, wooden spoon. Eventually, the Daiquiri evolved to be mixed
in a shaker with the same ingredients but with shaved ice.
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| Jennings Cox Daiquiri |
The
Daiquiri has consistently gained popularity, especially during the hot, summer
months. It has become the drink of choice for many to imbibe during Caribbean
vacations, and has evolved into many different variations over the years. This July 19, why not try something different
than the traditional types of this frozen drink on National Daiquiri Day?
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| El Floridita Daiquiri |
The frozen
daiquiri was the creation of Constante Ribalaigua Vert in his now world famous
La Floridita establishment on Obispo Stree in Havana. Arguably, Ribalaigua was the greatest
mixologist of the mid-twentieth century.
Ribalaigua told Thomas Sugrue, a British writer, that his “only hobby is
his work,” besides inventing a new cocktail practically every day, was to make
sure that his customers got the best drinks and the best service, whether they
were Ernest Hemingway, Spencer Tracy or the couple visiting from Des Moines. He was still pulling shifts until he died, in
1952.
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| Enjoying the "Papa Doble" at the El Floridita |
Through the
efforts of these two men, along with the fame of Ernest Hemingway's thirst for the Daiquiri, we are able to enjoy these really great and unique cocktails
at home or in your favorite cocktail lounge today.
