Tell us George, what is it about the Daiquiri that has made it a constant throughout drinking history?
The Daiquiri is made up of the Holy Trinity of cocktail ingredients. The elements of sweet, sour and strong are the base for almost every cocktail. These are the only three ingredients that I would choose for my desert island. The only thing missing is weak, but who cares about that! The result is a match made in heaven, it’s so simple and so delicious. This is why the Daiquiri has remained a favourite for over a century.
What external influences have inspired you from the era you have chosen?
Don the Beachcomber, the creator of tiki, was a truly innovative mixologist and the definitive cocktail ambassador of the 1930s. He called his cocktails Rum Rhapsodies and they combined: tropical flavours, home made ingredients, spices, different citrus and many more ingredients to make his Exotic Rum Rhapsodies. Our Tiki inspired Daiquiri is called Cuban Rum Rhapsody, an homage to the originator, Don the Beachcomber.
What cues from the era have you included in your drink?
The Daiquiri takes centre stage in the history of Tiki cocktails. The three ingredients that are in the Daiquiri, are the basis for almost every other tiki drink. Bacardí is the most influential rum in the booming era of Cuban cocktails, it has so much history attached to it, and because rum is the the central ingredient of the cocktail it is the most important cue from the era included in our drink.
Tell us about your Daiquiri and why people should drink it on National Daiquiri Day.
In addition to the rum, lime and sugar, I have added passion fruit, fresh orange juice, spices from the falernum, and a touch of honey for sweetness. This Tiki Daiquiri consists of a complex mixture of ingredients but the end product is a finely balanced exotic rhapsody of flavours. On a hot summer’s day you can add a scoop of crushed ice to the same recipe, blend it and enjoy the same tropical flavours as an even colder drink. This is the best way to celebrate National Daiquiri Day. Let’s hope that 19th of July is a hot summer’s day.
How will your bar be celebrating National Daiquiri Day?
There will be lots of frozen and straight up Cuban Rum Rhapsodies flying around and people with big smiles getting down to some tunes, in our tropical escape from reality in the middle of Mayfair.
Can you suggest one simple way that cocktail lovers can elevate their Daiquiri making at home?
It’s very easy to make a Daiquiri at home. You just need to balance the sweet, sour and strong components. Start by mixing your sweet and sour making sure that you have the right balance for your palate. Add as much rum as you feel like. Shake it hard to add dilution or add one scoop of ice and blend it.
Daddy Tiki Daiquiri
50ml Bacardi Carta Blanca
10ml Re’al Passion fruit
10ml lime
10ml fresh orange juice
10ml Falernum
10ml honey syrup
Half a passion fruit
