The Hemingway — Rum Dhu Pure White
"My mojito in La Bodeguita, my daiquiri in El Floridita." — Ernest Hemingway
Few drinks carry a story quite like the Hemingway Daiquiri. Born in the sun-drenched bars of Havana, this is a cocktail for those who live with intention — sharp, citrus-forward, and unapologetically bold. It's the kind of drink Hemingway himself would order twice.
At Mounts Bay Distillery, we craft our Rum Dhu White on the Cornish coast, using clean Atlantic water drawn from the heart of West Cornwall. It's a Cornish rum with real character — and the perfect spirit to carry this Havana classic into new waters.
The Drink
Hemingway Daiquiri with Rum Dhu White
Serves 1
Ingredients
- 50ml Rum Dhu White Cornish Rum
- 20ml fresh pink grapefruit juice
- 15ml fresh lime juice
- 10ml maraschino liqueur
- Ice
Method
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice. Give it a quick, confident shake for 10–15 seconds until well chilled. Strain in a single, steady pour into a chilled glass — watch that pale golden haze settle.
Garnish
A dehydrated lime wheel for a premium finish, or a thin grapefruit twist.
Why Cornish Rum Works So Well Here
Rum Dhu White is distilled in Cornwall using Atlantic coastal water — clean, mineral-rich, and full of character. That lightness lets the citrus shine: the grapefruit adds bitter brightness, the lime cuts through with sharpness, and the maraschino rounds everything off with subtle sweetness. The result is a pale, hazy gold in the glass that's as beautiful as it is bold.
No sugar syrup needed. Hemingway was diabetic and preferred his drinks dry — this Cornish rum daiquiri honours that tradition perfectly.
It's a drink that rewards good ingredients and a confident shake. Much like the man himself.
A Little History
The original Hemingway Daiquiri was created at El Floridita bar in Havana, where Hemingway was a regular. He asked the bartender Constantino Ribalaigua to make his daiquiri without sugar and with double the rum — the result became known as the Papa Doble. We've kept the spirit of that request, just with a Cornish twist.
Rum Dhu White Cornish Rum is available to order from mountsbaydistillery.com. Drink responsibly. Must be 18+ to purchase.