Handcrafted Cocktails: The Daiquiri, Two Ways

Don’t let this drink’s reputation fool you.

Have you ever had a real daiquiri? Learning to make this classic drink is key for both the casual home bartender and the consummate beverage professional. Once you’re able to balance its three base ingredients—rum, lime juice, and simple syrup—you’ll have laid the foundation to create countless other cocktails. That’s because all sours, including the daiquiri and the margarita, use this formula: spirit + citrus + sweetener.

Classic Daiquiri

Start with the Classic Daiquiri recipe and graduate to the Bootlegger version when you’re ready for a twist. And as you’re sipping, you can read more of my thoughts on this storied cocktail.

Ingredients:

2 ounces rum
1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice 
¾ ounce simple syrup

How to craft it:

Combine all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wheel or a lime twist—or keep it simple with nothing at all.

Bootlegger Daiquiri

Given a well-stocked bar, this is something I would shake up for myself and for you. The structure is the same as a Classic Daiquiri, but with a blend of four rum styles and a dash of angostura bitters. Each rum brings something different to the table: Plantation is a properly crafted pineapple rum, El Dorado adds depth through long-aging distillation, Ron Zacapa brings richness and complexity, and Smith & Cross delivers heady funk and a fortifying 114 proof.

Ingredients:

1 ounce Plantation Pineapple Rum
½ ounce El Dorado 12-Year Rum
¼ ounce Ron Zacapa Centenario
¼ ounce Smith & Cross Jamaican Rum
1 ounce fresh lime juice
¾ ounce simple syrup
Dash of angostura bitters

How to craft it:

Combine all ingredients in a Boston shaker with ice. Shake well, strain into a chilled coupe glass, and garnish with a lime wheel.

Learn more about Charles Joly’s world-recognized bartending skills here and follow his spirited adventures on Instagram.