Bacardi Cocktail
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 22.2% ABV ∙
The Bacardi Cocktail is a Daiquiri variation built specifically on Bacardi white rum, fresh lime juice, and grenadine, shaken and served up in a coupe. Sharp citrus hits first, softened by a rich pomegranate sweetness underneath, finishing with a crisp, clean sugarcane backbone — an effortless pre-dinner classic.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: White rum 60 mlLime juice 15 mlGrenadine syrup 10 mlSugar syrup 5 ml
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with a maraschino cherry
Tips
- Shake hard and fine-strain — the lime and syrups need real aeration to blend into a smooth, pale-pink drink.
- Add the grenadine last before shaking so it doesn't sink and over-sweeten the bottom of the shaker unevenly.
- Use fresh lime juice, not bottled — the drink's balance depends on real acidity.
History
The Bacardi Cocktail grew out of the Daiquiri, the rum-lime-sugar drink that had become popular in the United States after 1909. An early precursor appeared in a 1913 Oakland Tribune report describing a New York drink of rum, lime juice, and grenadine, though it was not yet named. In 1914, Jacques Straub's bar guide Drinks published the recipe under the name Bacardi Cocktail, specifying Bacardi rum as the defining ingredient. Sources disagree on when grenadine entered the formula: some hold it was part of the drink from the start, while others maintain the original Bacardi Cocktail was simply a Daiquiri made with Bacardi rum and plain sugar, with the pink grenadine version emerging later in the United States. After Prohibition, the drink became popular enough that bars sometimes substituted cheaper rums, and Bacardi successfully argued in court that a drink could only be called a Bacardi Cocktail if it was made with Bacardi rum.
FAQ
What is in a Bacardí Cocktail?
White rum, fresh lime juice, grenadine, and a touch of sugar syrup, shaken and strained into a coupe glass with a maraschino cherry. The grenadine gives it a signature pale pink color and rounds out the tart lime.
Is a Bacardí Cocktail shaken or stirred?
Shaken. The lime juice and syrups need the aeration and quick chill of a hard shake; stirring would leave the citrus flat and the drink under-diluted.
What glass is a Bacardí Cocktail served in?
A coupe glass, served up with a maraschino cherry garnish.
What are popular variations of the Bacardí Cocktail?
Common variations adjust the grenadine-to-lime ratio for a deeper pink color or swap in a flavored syrup like raspberry for grenadine. Some versions add a splash of orange liqueur, moving it closer to a Bacardí Special, or use light agricole-style rum instead of a standard white rum for a grassier edge.
