Also known as a Papa Doble, the Hemingway Daiquiri takes the simple Daiquiri to a new level with two simple additions. Read on to discover how Ernest Hemingway got his name on the drink and learn how to make a Papa Doble at home.
The Hemingway Daiquiri is an anomaly.
With its pink hue and fruity flavor, this shaken sour cocktail looks and tastes like a liquor lightweight. Some might even call it a girly drink. But make no mistake – the Hemingway Daiquiri is a serious cocktail with an ample amount of alcohol that can sneak up on any drinker who’s not careful.
As it turns out, the Hemingway Daiquiri has an interesting history that involves one of the least girly authors to ever travel to the cocktail’s home country of Cuba. It’s also a cocktail that tastes so great that you’ll want to drink two, maybe three, once you give it a try.
What Is The Hemingway Daiquiri?
Named after Ernest Hemingway and nicknamed both Papa Doble and Hemingway Special, this classic cocktail is a Daiquiri variation that adds ruby red grapefruit juice and maraschino liqueur to the classic cocktail’s recipe. More than just window dressing, these two extra ingredients simultaneously add a subtle sweetness and bright, tart flavor to the simple sipper.
Legend has it that Hemingway inspired his namesake cocktail when he ordered a Daiquiri without sugar and double the rum. Though the recipe has evolved over the years, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to forget the story where it all began.
History Of The Hemingway Daiquiri
The history of the Hemingway Daiquiri is a doozy thanks to the two key characters involved in the classic cocktail’s origin story. One was bigger-than-life author Ernest Hemingway and the other was master mixologist Constantino Ribailagua.
As famous for his voracious appetite as for his prolific writing, Hemingway lived at Havana’s Hotel Ambos Mundos during the 1930s. At that same time, Ribailagua was an equally prolific bartender at Havana’s El Floridita bar. Considering the mere 750 meter distance between the Hotel Ambos Mundos and El Floridita, it was only a matter of time before the two would meet.
As described in this NPR article, the Hemingway Daiquiri owes its creation to a productive pit stop at El Floridita. Not only did Hemingway find a restroom during his sojourn, but he also made cocktail history by custom ordering a Daiquiri with less sugar and more rum.
Ribailagua crafted the original Hemingway Daiquiri which eventually adopted the Papa Doble moniker. He later fine-tuned the recipe by adding maraschino liqueur and grapefruit juice.
As for Hemingway, he proceeded to drink many more Cuban cocktails at El Floridita over the years, typically ordering double drinks with four ounces of rum in each glass. Papa clearly liked his doubles. Or, we should say, his Papa Dobles.
Buy To Have and Have Another – A Hemingway Cocktail Companion from Amazon and read the story about the time that Hemingway drank 17 cocktails at one sitting as well as other drinking adventures.
Hemingway Daiquiri Ingredients
These are the ingredients required to craft a Hemingway Daiquiri at home:
You’ll notice that the Hemingway Daiquiri ingredients aren’t that different from the ingredients in a classic Daiquiri. Both cocktails start with white rum and lime juice but the Hemingway Daiquiri adds maraschino liqueur and grapefruit juice to the mix.
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We go one step further by adding simple syrup to our Hemingway Daiquiri recipe. We find that this addition cuts the cocktail’s tartness and balances its competing flavors.
Luxardo produces our preferred maraschino liqueur which is not surprising since we’re obsessed with the Italian company’s maraschino cherries. We had to special-order this liqueur and it was totally worth it. Not only can we use it to craft Hemingway Daiquiris, but Luxardo maraschino liqueur is a key ingredient in Aviation and Martinez cocktails too.
We use Bacardi White Rum to craft this and other rum-based cocktails. Any decent white rum will work in this recipe.
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How To Craft A Hemingway Daiquiri
The first step in this recipe is to squeeze the juice if you have access to fresh fruit. This is a great time to cut a lime wheel while the lime is still intact.
The next step is to measure the white rum, maraschino liqueur and simple syrup. Although the simple syrup is optional, we include the natural sweetener whenever we craft Hemingway Daiquiri cocktails at home. We like to use a Japanese jigger to easily achieve accurate measurements.
Immediately pour each liquid into a shaker. We like to use a Boston Shaker for this step.
Once all the ingredients are in the shaker, add ice and shake until all the ingredients are chilled and mixed. This should take about 30 seconds.
Strain the cocktail into a coupe glass.
Once you strain the Hemingway Daiquiri into a coupe glass, all that’s left to do is garnish the cocktail with a lime wheel. Although you could gently drop the lime wheel directly into the drink, we prefer to place ours on the glass rim instead.
Hemingway Daiquiri Alternatives
We suspect that you’ll love this recipe so much that you wont need any alternatives. However, here are some ideas if you want to experiment:
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Recipe FAQs
The Hemingway Daiquiri is a sophisticated twist on the classic Daiquiri crafted with ruby red grapefruit juice and maraschino liqueur.
The Hemingway Daiquiri was invented at the El Floridita bar in Havana, Cuba.
The Hemingway Daiquiri was named after Ernest Hemingway. The prolific writer inspired the cocktail’s creation since he was also a prolific drinker.
The Hemingway Daiquiri tastes sweeter and tarter compare to a classic Daiquiri.
White Rum, Maraschino Liqueur, Lime Juice, Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice, Simple Syrup (Optional), Lime Wheel and Ice
The Hemingway Daiquiri takes the classic Daiquiri to the next level with the addition of ruby red grapefruit juice and maraschino cherry liqueur.
The Hemingway Daiquiri is shaken, not stirred.
We like to serve this cocktail in a coupe glass but you could use a small martini glass instead.
Did you craft this cocktail? If so, please rate the recipe below.
Hemingway Daiquiri Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ounces white rum
- ¾ ounce lime juice (freshly squeezed)
- ½ ounce grapefruit juice (freshly squeezed)
- ½ ounce maraschino liqueur
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 1 lime wheel (garnish)
- ice cubes (for shaking)
Instructions
- Pour white rum, maraschino liqueur, lime juice, simple syrup and grapefruit juice into a shaker.
- Add ice and shake vigorously until ingredients are mixed and chilled.
- Strain into a coupe glass.
- Garnish with lime wheel.
Notes
- We recommend slicing the lime wheel before you squeeze the lime.
- You can use a martini glass if you don’t have a coupe glass.
Estimated Nutrition
Thirsty For More Rum Cocktails?
About The Authors
Daryl & Mindi Hirsch
Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on their website 2foodtrippers. Since launching the site in 2012, they’ve traveled to over 40 countries in their quest to bring readers a unique taste of the world.
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Original Publication Date: April 13, 2021
Philip Greene
Thursday 7th of July 2022
I also created a grapefruit-free version of the Hemingway Daiquiri for those on cholesterol (statin) drugs, I call it the Statin Islander, here's how:
2 oz white rum 3/4 oz fresh lime juice 1/4 oz Campari 1/4 oz Cointreau 1 teaspoon maraschino liqueur
Shake well with ice, strain into a chilled coupe. Miraculously, the Campari and Cointreau create the flavor of grapefruit, which people taking cholesterol meds should avoid
Daryl and Mindi Hirsch
Thursday 7th of July 2022
Thanks for sharing!
Philip Greene
Thursday 7th of July 2022
Thanks for mentioning my book, To Have and Have Another! We love Lisbon, by the way, and will have to look you up next time we visit. Philip Greene
Daryl and Mindi Hirsch
Thursday 7th of July 2022
It was our pleasure! Please look us up - we can drink Hemingway Daiquiris when you're in town. Will be fun.
Charles
Monday 2nd of May 2022
You omitted the simple syrup in the mixing instructions.
Daryl and Mindi Hirsch
Monday 2nd of May 2022
Thanks for bringing the omission to our attention. Cheers!