The Maraschino Daiquiri is a rum sour built on light gold rum, lime, and maraschino liqueur, a cherry-scented twist on the classic Cuban Daiquiri. Bright lime tartness leads, wrapped in the nutty-cherry sweetness of maraschino over a soft gold-rum base, finishing crisp and dry — a fine pre-dinner sipper.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Light gold rum 60 mlLime juice 15 mlMaraschino liqueur 10 mlSugar syrup 10 ml
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with a lime wedge on the rim
Tips
- Shake hard for 12-15 seconds with plenty of ice — the drink needs aeration and a cold, brisk dilution.
- Squeeze the lime to order; bottled juice turns the balance flat and dull against the maraschino.
- Go easy on the maraschino — it is intensely sweet and cherry-almond forward, and quickly overpowers the rum.
- Measure the maraschino carefully — its cherry-almond sweetness is potent and easily overtakes the rum and lime.
History
The Maraschino Daiquiri belongs to the family of enriched Daiquiris that layer maraschino liqueur into the classic Cuban rum sour, the best-known being the Hemingway Daiquiri. That drink is tied to Havana's El Floridita bar, where, as the often-repeated story goes, novelist Ernest Hemingway asked for his Daiquiri with no sugar and double the rum during the 1930s; grapefruit juice and maraschino were added later to give it depth. The exact history is contested among cocktail historians, and drink writer Ted Haigh, in Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails, notes that beyond the bar, the man, and the drink, the details "go straight to hell."
FAQ
What alcohol is in a daiquiri?
Rum is the base spirit of a Daiquiri, combined with lime juice and a sweetener. This Maraschino Daiquiri uses light gold rum, freshly squeezed lime, sugar syrup, and a measure of maraschino liqueur for a cherry-almond note.
What is the best liquor for a daiquiri?
A light or lightly aged rum is best for a Daiquiri, letting the lime and sweetener show through. This recipe uses light gold rum, which adds a touch more depth than a clear white rum without overwhelming the maraschino.
What alcohol goes with maraschino cherries?
Maraschino liqueur, distilled from Marasca cherries, is the classic cherry spirit and pairs naturally with rum, gin, and whiskey. In this Daiquiri it brings a nutty, cherry-almond sweetness that balances the sharp lime.
Is a Maraschino Daiquiri shaken or stirred?
Shaken. Because it contains citrus, the drink is shaken hard with ice to chill, dilute, and aerate it, then strained into a chilled coupe glass. Stirring would leave it flat and under-diluted.
What glass is a Maraschino Daiquiri served in?
A coupe glass, served up without ice. It is shaken with ice and fine-strained into the chilled coupe, then finished with a lime wedge.
