Two nights ago, I attended a happy hour at a Cuban restaurant in NYC. A well-dressed, sophisticated-looking woman standing at the bar beside me ordered a “hand-shaken Daquiri.” I was intrigued. I asked the woman, “what exactly is a hand-shaken Daiquiri?” She excitedly explained to me that before the syrupy sweet blended concoctions that we currently know as Daiquiris ever existed, before ice, before blenders even, there was the original, hand-shaken cocktail invented by a bartender in a little Cuban bar near a place called Daiquiri.

I watched the bartender mix together what looked like a very refreshing concoction of rum, fresh lime juice and simple syrup. I had to have one! I took one sip and I was sold. The hand-shaken Daiquiri is my new favorite cocktail. So long Mojito. Good bye Margarita. Try this traditional recipe and make history at your next fiesta!!

Mix 3 parts Bacardi Gold rum, with one part simple syrup and one part fresh lime juice (none of the bottled stuff). Pour into a shaker filled with ice. Shake and pour into a lo ball. Enjoy!