Ingredients
- 60 ml white rum Cuban-style if possible
- 15 ml fresh lime juice
- 30 ml fresh grapefruit juice pink or ruby
- 7.5 ml maraschino liqueur Luxardo
- 1 wheel lime optional, garnish
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice.
- Shake hard for 12-15 seconds.
- Double-strain into a chilled coupe glass.
- Garnish with a lime wheel if desired (or serve clean as Hemingway preferred).
Notes
Where it came from
Constantino Ribalaigua Vert, head bartender at El Floridita in Havana, created the Hemingway Daiquiri (also called the Papa Doble) in the 1930s for Ernest Hemingway, who was a regular. Hemingway was diabetic and preferred his Daiquiri without sugar, with double the rum.
The original spec called for two shots of rum, a small grapefruit juice, fresh lime, and a maraschino accent. No sweetener. Hemingway reportedly drank up to a dozen of these in a sitting. El Floridita still serves them today and the bar has a bronze statue of Hemingway leaning on his usual stool.
How it differs from a regular Daiquiri
The classic Daiquiri is rum, lime and sugar. Three ingredients. The Hemingway swaps the sugar for maraschino liqueur and adds grapefruit juice. The maraschino brings cherry-almond complexity, the grapefruit adds bitterness and a different citrus profile, and the absence of sugar makes the whole drink leaner and more aromatic.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The rum
- Use
- Cuban-style white rum (Havana Club 3 Year, where legal)
- Try
- Bacardi Superior, Plantation 3 Stars, or Diplomatico Planas
- Why
- Cuban-style rum has a slight grassy funk that suits the citrus. Avoid heavy molasses-style white rums.
The maraschino liqueur
- Use
- Luxardo Maraschino (the original Italian)
- Try
- Maraska Maraschino, the Croatian alternative
- Skip
- Maraschino cherry syrup, that’s not the same product
The grapefruit
- Use
- Fresh ruby red grapefruit, juiced
- Try
- White grapefruit for a sharper version
- Skip
- Bottled grapefruit cocktail, way too sweet for this drink
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Skip it and add 5ml simple syrup. Not Hemingway, but still a decent grapefruit Daiquiri.
Pomelo juice works. Without it, you have made a regular Daiquiri.
Bottled is a step down. Use lemon juice as a last resort.
Double the rum to 120ml. That was Hemingway’s actual order. Drink slowly.
Add 5ml simple syrup. Purists will judge you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Hemingway Daiquiri?
White rum, fresh lime juice, fresh grapefruit juice and maraschino liqueur. Standard build is 60ml rum, 15ml lime, 30ml grapefruit and 7.5ml maraschino, shaken and double-strained into a coupe. No sugar.
Why is it called a Hemingway Daiquiri?
Ernest Hemingway was a regular at El Floridita in Havana in the 1930s. Bartender Constantino Ribalaigua Vert built a Daiquiri to Hemingway’s preferences: no sugar (he was diabetic), grapefruit, maraschino, double rum. The drink became known as the Papa Doble or Hemingway Daiquiri.
What is the difference between a Hemingway Daiquiri and a regular Daiquiri?
A regular Daiquiri is rum, lime and sugar. The Hemingway swaps sugar for maraschino liqueur and adds grapefruit juice. The result is drier, more aromatic and less sweet than the original.
What is the Papa Doble?
Same drink, but with the rum doubled (120ml instead of 60ml). “Papa” was Hemingway’s nickname and “doble” means double in Spanish. Hemingway is said to have ordered them by the dozen at El Floridita.
Do I have to use Cuban rum?
Cuban-style white rum is traditional and best. Where Cuban rum is unavailable, look for Plantation 3 Stars, Diplomatico Planas, or Bacardi Superior. Avoid heavy aged rums, the drink wants a clean white rum.
How strong is a Hemingway Daiquiri?
About 24-28 percent ABV in the glass. Strong, like a martini. The Papa Doble version (with double rum) is closer to 35 percent. Drink slowly.
Can I make it without maraschino liqueur?
The maraschino is what makes it a Hemingway. Without it, you have made a Daiquiri with grapefruit juice, which is fine but not the same drink. If you must skip the maraschino, add 5ml of simple syrup to balance the citrus.
What food goes with a Hemingway Daiquiri?
Cuban food (ropa vieja, tostones), grilled fish, ceviche, oysters. The drink is dry and citrusy enough to handle salty and acidic food.
