Quick Answer
A daiquiri is made with rum, not vodka or tequila. The classic daiquiri contains white rum, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup. Flavored daiquiris may also contain fruit purées or other sweeteners. While vodka and tequila are sometimes substituted, a rum-based daiquiri is the original and most common.
What Is A Daiquiri?
A daiquiri is a cocktail that typically consists of rum, citrus juice (usually lime), and sweetener. It is served shaken and chilled, straight up in a cocktail glass.
The original daiquiri contains:
– 2 oz white rum
– 1 oz fresh lime juice
– 1⁄2 oz simple syrup
This combination creates a refreshing, tart and lightly sweet cocktail. The lime juice and sugar balance the strong flavor of the rum.
While daiquiris are often made with fruit flavors added, the classic version contains just the core ingredients of rum, citrus, and sugar. Popular fruit variations include strawberry daiquiris and banana daiquiris.
Rum vs Vodka vs Tequila
Rum, vodka and tequila are all distilled spirits, but they have distinct flavors and backgrounds:
Rum
– Made from sugarcane byproducts like molasses or sugar cane juice
– Aged in oak barrels for color and flavor
– Tastes range from light/crisp to rich/sweet
– Key ingredient in daiquiris and mojitos
Vodka
– Made from fermented grains or potatoes
– Filtered repeatedly to achieve neutral flavor
– Clear in color with a smooth, mild taste
– Key ingredient in martinis, bloody marys, moscow mules
Tequila
– Made only from the blue agave plant
– Produced primarily in the Jalisco region of Mexico
– Aged in oak for complex flavor (reposado, añejo)
– Bright, herbal flavors ranging from peppery to sweet
– Key ingredient in margaritas, tequila sunrises
So while vodka and tequila can be used in place of rum in a daiquiri, the flavor profile will be quite different from the traditional version. Rum’s sweetness pairs especially well with citrus juice.
Daiquiri History
The daiquiri was invented in the late 1800s near Santiago, Cuba. One story credits an American mining engineer named Jennings Cox who created it by mixing local rum with lime juice and sugar.
| Year | Daiquiri Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1898 | Daiquiri supposedly invented by Jennings Cox in Santiago, Cuba |
| 1909 | Recipe first appears in print in “The Bartender’s Manual” by Jacques Straub |
| 1914 | Daiquiris introduced in the US at the Domingo Bar in New York City |
| 1920s | Ernest Hemingway discovers daiquiris in Havana and helps popularize them |
| 1930s | Fruit variations like banana and strawberry daiquiris invented |
| 1940s | Daiquiris popularized as a tropical drink in Hollywood films and Tiki bars |
Another story credits Jennings Cox’s friend and fellow American mine engineer, William A. Chanler. Both men frequented bars in Santiago where local bartenders experimented with mixing rum and citrus.
Regardless of its exact origin, the combination clearly caught on. By the early 1900s, daiquiris were being served in Cuba and America. Their popularity further increased after novelist Ernest Hemingway tried them in Havana in the 1920s.
Fruit-flavored daiquiris emerged in the 1930s, eventually forming the basis for frozen daiquiri machines. Daiquiris became a standard vacation cocktail highlighted on bar menus across the tropics and in tiki bars.
While other rum cocktails like mojitos and mai tais may have partly overshadowed it, the classic daiquiri remains a foundational drink in the canon of rum cocktails.
Conclusion
A daiquiri is defined by its core ingredients of rum, citrus, and sweetener. While vodka or tequila daiquiris are possible, they stray from the original formula that balances aged rum’s flavor with tart lime and sugar. The daiquiri’s three ingredients allow the rum to take center stage, complemented by bright citrus and sweetness. This iconic combination has made it one of the most popular rum cocktails for over a century.