Strawberry Daiquiri
The Strawberry Daiquiri is a summertime favorite that evokes sunny days and poolside vacations. At its best, the drink is a refreshing, delicious concoction that highlights good rum, sweet strawberries and fresh lime juice. But during the 1980s and ’90s—the heyday of artificial mixers—the Strawberry Daiquiri’s reputation suffered a hit, as bars served neon-colored cocktails that were absent any actual strawberries. When made with care and fresh ingredients, however, the drink is a revelation.
The Strawberry Daiquiri is often served frozen. Rum, lime, simple syrup and several strawberries are combined with ice and blended until smooth. This icy treat provides the invigorating profile of a fresh smoothie, with the added bonus of alcohol.
The strawberry-based variation is the most famous of the flavored, blended Daiquiris—a category that also includes popular versions that range from banana to mango, to countless other fruit combinations. But despite it's often unearned reputation as an unserious drink, when made properly, the balance of fresh ingredients that make a classic Daiquiri work, are also at play in its frozen variation.
This also makes a trip to the produce aisle paramount when making a frozen Strawberry Daiquiri. As easy as pre-mixed commercial products may be, they can’t come close to matching the taste of real fruit. However, frozen whole strawberries can be substituted when fresh strawberries are unavailable.
Many different types of rum can work in this drink, and each will offer unique flavors. Consider choosing a rum that will complement the fresh fruit without overpowering it. Silver rums will tend to allow the fruit to display more prominently. However, there’s not one right answer, so for the best results, choose a rum you like or experiment with unfamiliar brands to find a new favorite.
If you prefer your Strawberry Daiquiri shaken or you don’t have a blender, not to worry. You can first muddle the strawberries with simple syrup in a cocktail shaker and then shake everything with ice before fine-straining the contents into your glass to avoid any solid bits and seeds. The texture won’t contain that trademark icy bite with each sip, but the flavor will be equally delicious.
For a shaken daiquiri, adjust the recipe below to include 2 ounces of rum, 1 ounce of lime juice and 3/4 ounce of rich simple syrup.
Ingredients- 1 1/2 ounces rum
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 3/4 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 4–5 large strawberries
- 1 cup ice
- Garnish: edible orchid (optional)
- Combine the rum, rich simple syrup, lime juice, strawberries and ice in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Pour into a hurricane style glass or wine glass.
- Garnish with an optional edible orchid.
