Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Everyday Life • Cocktails

Daiquiri

The daiquiri is a classic cocktail made with rum, lime juice, and sugar or another sweetener.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

The daiquiri is a classic rum cocktail from Cuba, made with lime juice and sugar. It's typically shaken and served chilled in a coupe glass.

What it is

The classic daiquiri is a simple sour cocktail: rum, fresh lime juice, and sugar or simple syrup, shaken with ice and strained into a chilled glass. It's one of the best-known rum cocktails and a key example of the sour formula.

History and origin

The daiquiri is widely credited to American engineer Jennings Stockton Cox, who worked near Daiquirí, Cuba, around the turn of the 20th century. The drink takes its name from that town and became closely tied to Cuban cocktail culture.

Variations

Over time, many variations have emerged, including frozen and fruit-flavoured daiquiris. However, the classic version is always shaken, not blended, and served very cold.

In short

  • A classic daiquiri is a sour cocktail with rum, lime juice, and sugar.
  • It originated in Cuba, named after the town of Daiquirí.
  • The drink is credited to American engineer Jennings Stockton Cox.
  • Frozen fruit daiquiris are modern variations, not the original.
Canadian angle

Daiquiris are widely served in Canadian bars and restaurants as a standard classic cocktail, especially in Caribbean, hotel, and craft-cocktail settings.

Quick questions

What is a daiquiri?
A daiquiri is a rum-based cocktail made with lime juice and sugar or simple syrup.
Where did the daiquiri come from?
It is generally associated with Cuba, especially the town of Daiquirí near Santiago de Cuba.
What are the ingredients in a classic daiquiri?
Rum, fresh lime juice, and sugar or simple syrup, usually shaken with ice.

Sources

  1. Difford's Guide — https://www.diffordsguide.com/g/1083/daiquiri-cocktail/story
    Supports: Classic recipe, Cuban origin story, and Jennings Stockton Cox attribution
  2. American Prohibition Museum — https://www.americanprohibitionmuseum.com/cocktails/daiquiri
    Supports: Core ingredients and classic preparation
  3. American Historical Association — https://www.historians.org/perspectives-article/the-imperial-daiquiri-a-brief-history-of-american-empire-in-one-cocktail-june-2023/
    Supports: Historical context and recipe structure
  4. Bacardi Limited — https://www.bacardilimited.com/media/news-archive/the-daiquiri-cocktail-first-mixed-with-bacardi-rum-celebrates-125-years/
    Supports: Historic Bacardi-linked recipe and chilled serving method
  5. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daiquiri
    Supports: General description, sour classification, and ingredients
  6. National Geographic — https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/story-of-daiquiri-hemingway
    Supports: Cultural association of the daiquiri with Cuba and Hemingway