This post may include affiliate links; see our disclosure policy.
This daiquiri recipe has the perfect balance of boozy, tart and sweet with rum, lime and sweetener. It’s one of the most classic sour cocktails and a family favorite!
Ready for one of the best easy classic cocktail recipes? The classic daiquiri. No, it’s not frozen like what became popular in the 1990’s. It’s a classic that goes back hundreds of years that features 3 ingredients: rum, lime, and simple syrup.
It sounds simple, but the balance of each element is pure perfection! Here’s how to make this classic daiquiri recipe using a simple formula you can memorize.
What is a daiquiri?
You might first think of frozen daiquiris, like the virgin strawberry daiquiris you ordered as a teen and thought you were oh so sophisticated. Turns out, a classic daiquiri is not frozen at all! A daiquiri is a family of rum cocktails made with white rum, citrus juice (usually lime), and a sweetener. A classic daiquiri is shaken, strained, and served in a cocktail glass. It’s on the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails, and is thought to have been invented in the 1800’s in Cuba. Here’s what’s in a daiquiri:
- White rum
- Lime juice
- Simple syrup
Frozen daiquiris are mixed alcoholic drinks with pureed ice; the texture is similar to a smoothie. There can be all sorts of frozen daiquiri flavors: strawberry daiquiri, lime daiquiri, banana daiquiri, mango daiquiri, pineapple daiquiri, and so forth. If you live in the US, this is probably the type of daiquiri that you think of, which has become ubiquitous.
The daiquiri formula
Why not add this classic daiquiri recipe to your repertoire? It’s so easy to make, reminiscent of the margarita and mojito with of its tart flavor. When we can, Alex and I like to create recipes that are easy to memorize. That way, you can always have them in your back pocket! So here’s how to make this easy-to-remember daiquiri recipe: To make a daiquiri, to a cocktail shaker, add:
- 3 tablespoons light or white rum
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon simple syrup
That’s 3-2-1, got it? All you have to do is shake it up with some ice to chill it, then pour it into a cocktail glass and serve with a lime wedge.
Use best quality rum
What kind of rum to use for a daiquiri? As with any simple cocktail: the better the quality of rum, the tastier the daiquiri! There’s not much to mask the alcohol, so the flavor of the drink is all about the quality of the rum. Try to find a mid-price range bottle, which is usually indicative of the quality.
Make sure to use white rum in a classic daiquiri! Dark rum is for a different type of drink (and would change the color and flavor dramatically).
Looking for more? Browse these Classic Lime Cocktails and Iconic Cuban Cocktails.
Classic Daiquiri Recipe
One of the most classic sour cocktails! This daiquiri recipe has the perfect balance of boozy, tart and sweet with rum, lime and sweetener.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Mixed
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons) best quality light or white rum
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) lime juice
- ½ ounce (1 tablespoon) simple syrup or maple syrup
- Lime slice, for garnish
Instructions
- Add the rum, lime juice, and syrup to a cocktail shaker. Fill it with ice and shake until cold.
- Strain into a cocktail glass. Serve garnished with a lime slice.
Cousin drinks to the daiquiri
Because the daiquiri is such a classic sour cocktail, there are many drinks that are related! Here are some drinks you might not realize are related to the daiquiri:
- Here’s the classic Mojito recipe, perfectly balanced with lime, rum and fresh mint! This iconic Cuban cocktail is refreshing and just sweet enough.
- The Southside cocktail is an easy and refreshing gin drink made with mint, lemon and lime: think of it like a gin mojito!
- The Hemingway Daiquiri is a spin dedicated to Ernest Hemingway, using grapefruit and Maraschino liqueur. Also try our Peach Daiquiri.
- The Pisco Sour features Pisco instead of rum, with lime and sweetener.
- A Caiprinha is a Brazilian sour that swaps out the rum with cachaça.
More classic cocktails
Love great classic cocktails? Here are a few of the best of the best:
- Whiskey Sour The best take on this classic: perfectly balanced with bourbon and lemon.
- Classic Margarita The only margarita recipe you need! Here’s how to make the very best margarita with 3 simple ingredients: lime, Cointreau and tequila—and no added sugar.
- Tom Collins Cocktail A Tom Collins is also known as a gin sour: is light and bubbly with soda water.
- Gin Fizz Cocktail Want another gin cocktail? Try a refreshing Gin Fizz: it’s sweet, tangy, and has a frothy egg white foam topping.
- Amaretto Sour It’s got just the right balance of amaretto with bourbon and lemon.
Last updated: May 2020
This was great, thanks!
Thank you for this friendly site with its easy daiquiri recipe! ‘Sante’ from France where we are sipping this right now for our Saturday ‘aperitif’!
Merci,
Anne
You’re welcome!
Best recipe I’ve tried so far!
Went with maple syrup in place of the SS and the results were fantastic!
I love how you present your cocktails, but I is simple and fast