Strawberry Daiquiri

Can you believe that Memorial Day is already around the corner? Here in Florida, the weather in May is pretty hot and unforgiving. Who wouldn’t want to cool down and celebrate the day with an icy cocktail?

It’s for recipes like this that you’ll be glad you took the time to freeze some of our strawberry bounty in February or March.  You won’t have to wait too long for the harvest of 2011, but until then, utilize frozen Florida strawberries and pat yourself on the back for being such a culinary genius.

When thinking about American cocktails, a daiquiri probably doesn’t pop into your head. Daiquiris are typically connected with Spanish speaking countries and it only makes sense as it gets its name from a beach in the Cuban town of Santiago.

But did you know that the daiquiri is actually an invention of Americans thirsty for a refreshing and cool cocktail? Rumor has it that in the early 1900s, American miners created the cocktail naming it after the beach near the bar of the drinks origination, Daiquiri.

Traditionally daiquiris follow a strict “9-4-1” recipe of white rum, lime juice and gomme syrup. The first two ingredients are pretty self explanatory but what is “gomme syrup”? According to the International Bartenders Association, gomme syrup is a French invention combining gum arabic with simple syrup (concentrated sugar water). Gum arabic is made from the sap of an acacia tree and helps emulsify the simple syrup, getting as much sugar as possible to dissolve into the water.

Our recipe skips the gomme syrup for something more flavorful and fun; agave nectar, carbonated lemon-lime soda and Florida strawberries. Try this delicious and refreshing cocktail at your Memorial Day celebration!

Ingredients

• 6 cups ice
• 1/4 cup agave nectar
• 6 frozen Florida strawberries
• 1 lime juiced
• 1 lemon juiced
• 3/4 cup white rum
• 1/4 cup lemon-lime flavored carbonated soda

First things first, pull out those frozen strawberries and let them thaw a bit. We want them really cold and a little soft, not hard as a rock. In a blender, blend ice, agave nectar and Florida strawberries. Blend until ice is crushed and strawberries puréed. Next add lime and lemon juice, white rum and soda. Blend again until the ice is smooth with no chunks. Divide into eight glasses and enjoy!

Want to make this kid friendly? Just take out the white rum and bump up the lemon-lime flavored carbonated soda to 1 cup.