The Strawberry Daiquiri on the Rocks is one of those all-time favourite cocktails, mainly made at home, or in Chain Bars. It's often served a little bit sweeter. But it should still be made properly, which means icy cold and consumed within a few minutes of making.
What Rum should you use in a Strawberry Daiquiri when it's served over Ice?
Personally, I love a lighter, unaged rum. I don't really do Aged Rum in a daiquiri. But it's one of those cocktails where there is no right or wrong. It's personal preference. So use the Rum you love. For some people, even a Funky Jamaican Rum will work well in a Strawberry Daiquiri.
What Lime Juice should you use in a Strawberry Daiquiri?
When it comes to the Lime Juice, although I do advocate for long life and shelf-stable products like ODK 100% Lime or Finest Call 100% Lime Juice - both last at least 30 days after opening and are just simply Lime Juice with a tiny bit of Anti-Oxidant that the wine industry uses - I'll always admit that if you're juicing a Lime there and then to make your Daiquiri, then Fresh is always better. It's when you're juicing Limes for use in 2-3 hours time, maybe for the whole weekend. That's when you can't tell the difference between the Long Life stuff and fresh.
Should you use Fresh Strawberry or Strawberry Syrup in a Strawberry Daiquiri?
A lot of you will use fresh Strawberries and muddle them down, but be mindful you will need to balance it with some Sugar. Also note, with fresh Strawberries, you can never guarantee the flavour. Some will taste meh. So I personally always advocate for a Strawberry Syrup. HOWEVER, in this instance, as we're serving the Cocktail over Ice, I do recommend a Puree. as it's a little thicker and just works better with Ice in the drink. There are many Strawberry Purees on the market, but as I'm fortunate enough to play with most of them, my own personal favourite is ODK Strawberry Puree.
What is the perfect Daiquiri Ratio?
When it comes to the Ratio. If you're a beginner, I'd urge you to start with a 2:1:1 ratio, where your part is either 25ml or 30ml. From there, you can adjust to taste. If that's too sweet, try a 2:1:0.5 ratio. I don't get too militant about the ratio, but I would say with fruitier Daiquiris served over Ice, you do tend to want them a little sweeter than a Classic Daiquiri.
(For Reference, the order is Rum:Lime:Sugar)
Now, if you need it boozier or a slightly different Ratio, that's when I'd suggest shifting your Part to 10ml. That's exactly what I use.
The Perfect Classic Daiquiri
20ml Lime Juice
20ml ODK Strawberry Puree
(As my Parts are 10ml, this Ratio is 5:2:2)
Simply Shake your Daiquiri until it is Icy cold, then serve it over Fresh Ice in a Tumbler or Whisky Glass
When it comes to making the Cocktail, I promise you, Ice and the Shake makes all the difference. You need loads of proper Frozen Ice. Not half melted Ice. And you need to shake it really hard for 10-12 seconds.
Also, your shaker makes a difference too. When you make a lot of Cocktails, you'll be amazed what a higher grade of Stainless Steel makes to a Cocktail Shaker. It'll get your Cocktail colder, a lot quicker!
My equipment is from Barfly.
If you make a Strawberry Daiquiri, take a photo of it, upload it to Instagram and be sure to Tag me in! @StevetheBarman