As if we needed another reason to drink rum-based cocktails in the summer, July 20th is National Daiquiri Day. In the power rankings for summery rum-centric mixed drinks, the daiquiri sits well above the rum and cola, mai tai, pina colada, and even the mojito. This combination of white rum, simple syrup, and lime juice is as straightforward as it is delicious and we’re all about celebrating them in one of the hottest months of the year.
As with all spirits, there’s an almost endless number of brands available. It might seem like a daunting task to pick just one. That’s why we asked some of our favorite bartenders to tell us their go-to rums to mix into this classic warm-weather cocktail.
Diplomatico Planas Rum
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Rico Velasquez, bartender at Jaleo by José Andrés in Las Vegas
For a daiquiri, I would choose Diplomatico Planas rum from Venezuela. It’s aged for six years and charcoal filtered giving it a crystal-clear complexion. It is a rich and luscious rum that you could mix and still taste the flavor of the spirit.
Probitas Rum
Cari Hah, bar manager at Big Bar in Los Angeles
Probitas rum is an amazing rum for a daiquiri. It is a unique blend of pot still and column still rum from the Foursquare distillery in Barbados as well as pot still rum from Hampden Estate in Jamaica. It is a blend of a 2-year Foursquare pot still rum, an unaged Coffey column still Foursquare rum and an unaged Hampden Estate pot still rum.
The rum is so funky and fun and it is slightly higher proof at 47 percent abv, so it really stands up in a daiquiri.
Santa Teresa 1796
Pamela Wiznitzer, Mixologist at The Lookup in New York City
I love blending rums for my daiquiris. I like the overproof rum, Wray & Nephew, with the weight from Santa Teresa 1796, and like to add something brighter, such as Bacardi four year to round it out.
Wray & Nephew Overproof Rum
Daniel King, beverage director of Liberty Common in Nashville
I like to use Wray & Nephew Overproof Rum. It’s overproof, so you won’t want to use a full 2oz. I usually mix it with another rum. So, you can use the second rum to play around with the flavor profile while knowing that the Wray & Nephew is going to bring that distinctive sugar cane pop to it.
A personal favorite of mine is to make a daiquiri with one-part Wray & Nephew and one part mezcal.
Sailor Jerry Rum
Josh Cameron, Head Bartender of Boulton & Watt in New York City
Sailor Jerry is a great bottle to pick up and pour on the fly. The juice also has character, spice, and strength, that give you the daiquiri energy to inspire 5am St Marks tattoo runs.
Lamb’s Navy Rum
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Mark Ferguson,bartender at Davio’s in Irvine, California
My favorite rum would be Lamb’s Navy Rum. It’s a potent force of nature with a sublime mouthfeel of molasses and sugarcane — a Caribbean blend from the islands of Trinidad and Guyana.
To quote the Arctic Monkeys, this a rum waiting to explode when ‘”its fuse is by a fireside.”
Brugal 1888
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Ryan Andrews, lead bartender at Prohibition in San Diego
Brugal 1888 is my favorite rum to mix into a daiquiri. It’s a Solera style rum from one of the richest sugarcane-producing parts of the world, the Dominican Republic.
Plantation 3 Stars Rum
Phil Testa, beverage manager at The Rickey in New York City
Plantation 3 Stars is my favorite rum to mix into a daiquiri. It’s a really good, standard rum, and especially for the price point, it’s not impossible to buy a lot and use a lot. Diplomático is a close second but that’s best enjoyed for sipping.
Smith & Cross Pot Still
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Ilan Chartor, spiritual advisor at KYU in Miami
My favorite daiquiri rum is Smith and Cross Single Pot Still Jamaican rum. Its overproof, so it’s a bit hot, but it’s exactly how I love my daiquiris.
Denizen White Rum
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Gia St. George, bar manager at China Poblano by José Andrés in Las Vegas
Denizen White Rum makes a delicious daiquiri — it never tastes flat. The cocktail can even sit for a few minutes and it will still taste fresh and not watered down.
Bacardi Lime
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Nikki McCutcheon, beverage director at Moxy Time Square in New York City
I really enjoy using Bacardi Rums to mix into daiquiris because of their versatility and affordability. Bacardi has so many great summer flavors, Pineapple and Lime for example, that make great daiquiris. At Magic Hour, one of our new cocktails, Doctors Orders, is served in two 10 ounce IV bags and prepared with VitaCoco, Bacardi Lime, Lime Juice and Agave.
The drink is guaranteed to bring you back to life form following a big night out or give you the extra push to keep going through your boozy brunch.
Plantation Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Rum
Sean Stangle, Bartender at Estiatorio Milos in Las Vegas
Plantation Pineapple Stiggins’ Fancy Rum is my new jam. This stuff is immaculate in a glass by itself, let alone mixed to make a spin on daiquiris. Pineapple rinds are infused with their Plantation 3 Stars Rum for one week, then pot distilled. The fruit is separately steeped in Plantation Original Dark Rum for three months. The two liquids are blended, and the resulting Pineapple Rum is rested in casks for three months before bottling.
Bacardi Heritage
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Yann Bouvignies, Head Bartender of Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London
Bacardi Heritage has a beautiful character with green, fruity notes that give each daiquiri a unique personality. It is clean and sharp.
