It is Ernest Hemingway’s birthday today.  So in his honour I intend to have a Hemingway Daiquiri. 

To read my article on Hemingway and his work, go here. 

The Hemingway Daiquiri was invented at the El Floridita bar in Cuba, when Hemingway lived and worked there.  He drank at the El Floridita and the barman asked if he would like a Daiquiri.  Hemingway said no, because he did not like sugar.  So the barman went away and came back with the Hemingway version, the Hemingway Daiquiri.  He used Maraschino Cherry Liqueur in place of sugar, to sweeten the drink.  Hemingway liked it so much he drank it regularly.  The story goes that when he went out to get drunk, he drank double Hemingway Daiquiris, which if you read the recipe below, is a helluva drink.

Unlike most stories of this kind, this origin story appears to be true.  Also a friend of mine who has visited the El Floridita where that they told him it was true and gave him a small pamphlet attesting to the provenance of the cocktail. 

 Here is my preferred (El Floridita) recipe: 

• Two shots of White Rum
•  A half-shot of Maraschino Cherry Liqueur
•  Juice of a lime (two if the limes are very small)
•  One shot of Grapefruit Juice (some recipes call for more but more makes the cocktail extremely tart)

 Shake together over ice, strain and serve very chilled, in a chilled glass.

This is a cocktail with a real sting and so I say Cheers Mr Hemingway!  God bless you, wherever you are.

To read my article on Hemingway’s life and writing go here