What is it about the Daiquiri that has made it a constant throughout drinking history?
The Daiquiri is one of the few classics, along with the Martini, Manhattan, Old Fashioned, and Sidecar; that every bartender must have in their repertoire. The simplicity of the drink makes it easy to get right, and if you choose the perfect ingredients and the correct measurements you can consistently deliver the perfect Daiquiri.
What external influences have inspired you from the era you have chosen?
What better way to celebrate the Daiquiri, one of the most iconic cocktails of the ‘Golden Era’, than by remembering the man who made the cocktail famous; Ernest Hemingway. The Fumoir bar has created a selection of several twists on the classic drink, all inspired by the places that the author lived, travelled and worked. To quote the great man himself “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end”.
Tell us about your Daiquiri and why people should drink it on National Daiquiri Day
When thinking back to the grandeur and the timelessness of where the Daiquiri was made famous, all the history that has come along with both the drink and Bacardi the brand itself, Claridge’s is the natural choice for such a celebration. We have five individual drinks, each one offering a completely unique experience.How will your bar be celebrating National Daiquiri Day?
One shouldn’t wait for National Daiquiri Day to enjoy this timeless classic, but the day itself would be the perfect time to join us in The Fumoir at Claridge’s. We are offering five individual drinks inspired by Hemingway and his relationship with the Daiquiri. To quote Ernest Hemingway again: “One cup of it took the place of the evening papers, of all the old evenings in cafés, of all chestnut trees that would be in bloom now in this month…of all the things he had enjoyed and forgotten and that came back to him when he tasted that opaque, bitter, tongue-numbing, brain-warming, stomach-warming, idea-changing liquid alchemy”.
Can you suggest one simple way that cocktail lover’s can elevate their Daiquiri making at home?
To prepare this drink at home I always stay true to the original ingredients, but I do enjoy playing around with the syrup, perhaps making a simple honey syrup with ginger or adding some herbs when shaking. Of course – when at Claridge’s, I could thinking of nothing more fitting than a spritz of champagne.
New England Punch
45ml Carta Blanca
10ml Kummel
20ml Lemon Juice
15ml Jasmine syrup.
Claridge’s, Brook St, London W1K 4HR.
