Updated on: 6/3/2025
Classic Daiquiri vs Hemingway Daiquiri: Key Differences, History & Recipe
Two cocktails, both named Daiquiri, tell distinct stories—one a pure Cuban classic, the other tailored for the famously idiosyncratic Ernest Hemingway. The journey from the original Daiquiri to the Hemingway Daiquiri traces not just an evolution of flavor, but of drinking culture and personal taste.
The Origins: Classic Daiquiri and Its Timeless Simplicity
Born in Cuba in the late 19th century, the classic Daiquiri is a model of simplicity: dry white rum, fresh lime juice, and sugar. Served shaken and strained into a coupe, its charm lies in the delicate sour-sweet balance and the crisp, refreshing finish. Over a century later, this structure still defines what many bartenders call the ideal rum sour.
The Hemingway Daiquiri: Born from Personal Preference
The Hemingway Daiquiri, also known as the Papa Doble, was created at El Floridita in Havana for Ernest Hemingway, who reportedly wished for a drink with “no sugar and double rum.” The bartenders responded with a new sour: light rum, maraschino liqueur, fresh lime, fresh grapefruit, and only a touch of sweetness. Unlike its ancestor, it’s drier, more complex, and aromatically distinctive.
Classic Daiquiri vs Hemingway Daiquiri: Ingredients & Flavor
- The classic Daiquiri combines 60 ml white rum, 22.5 ml fresh lime juice, and 15 ml simple syrup. The flavor is sugarcane-driven, bright, and tart—lime dominates with light rum’s grassy notes.
- The Hemingway Daiquiri swaps in maraschino liqueur for extra aromatic complexity (cherry and almond), adds 15 ml fresh grapefruit juice, and dials back the added sugar, typically just 5 ml. The result is more floral, citrusy, and bone-dry—tailored to Hemingway’s unique palate.
Both drinks are shaken and served straight up, but the Hemingway’s deeper flavors and drier finish make it a favorite for those seeking a tart, bracing cocktail.
How Each Daiquiri Shaped Cocktail History
The classic Daiquiri became the global template for rum sours—a touchstone in bar manuals and a canvas for endless reinterpretation. The Hemingway Daiquiri, meanwhile, marks the intersection of celebrity and cocktail culture. By capturing a literary legend’s tastes, it introduced new layers of citrus and maraschino to the family, inspiring bartenders to experiment with balance and bitterness.
Classic Hemingway Daiquiri Recipe (Papa Doble)
- 60 ml white Cuban-style rum
- 15 ml maraschino liqueur
- 22.5 ml fresh lime juice
- 15 ml fresh grapefruit juice
- 5 ml simple syrup (optional, for balance)
- Fill a shaker with ice.
- Add rum, maraschino liqueur, lime juice, grapefruit juice, and simple syrup.
- Shake hard for 10–12 seconds.
- Fine strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a thin grapefruit or lime twist.
Choosing Your Daiquiri
If you enjoy a straightforward, perfectly balanced sour, the classic Daiquiri remains unmatched. For those drawn to sharper, deeper flavors and subtle cherry-almond notes, the Hemingway Daiquiri rewards the palate with its history and complexity—proof that a twist in ingredients can rewrite cocktail tradition.