This Sunday marks 127 years of the Daiquiri, and six London bars are using the occasion as an excuse for a full month of limited-edition menus, running throughout July in partnership with rum brand Ron Santiago de Cuba. Expect bar-specific twists on the original, live Cuban music nights, and giveaways at select venues.

Daquiri’s backstory

Necessity isn’t just the mother of invention – apparently it’s also the mother of good cocktails. In 1898, American mining engineer Jennings Cobb ran out of gin near Santiago de Cuba and mixed local rum with lime and sugar instead, and named the result after the mining settlement he was stationed in.

Everyone’s had a go at improving on it since. Bartenders have frozen it, blended it with strawberries and bananas, spiked it with Campari and yuzu, thrown in absinthe for good measure – and none of it has managed to dethrone the original. Turns out three simples ingredients is a hard combination to beat.

Participating bars and what’s on offer

Callooh Callay has converted its Lounge into a Havana-themed hideaway for the month. The £13 menu includes the Frozen Guinness Rum Punch and the Dulce Oriente, which carries an absinthe kick.

Little Bat (Islington Park St, N1) has a Dry Daiquiri made with Carta Blanca, lime, passionfruit, Campari and yuzu syrup. There’s also a Frozen Strawberry version, and the Oriente Oro, built on dark fruit and chocolate.

The March Hare (King’s Rd, SW3) has kept it simple with frozen Banana, Mango, and Strawberry & Coconut options.

Silk Stockings (Dalston Ln, E8) has three new additions for July only: the Cuban Breeze (mint, lime, coconut), a Mandarin Daiquiri, and the Santiago Orchard, made with 11-year-old Añejo, Licor43, cloudy apple juice, lime and soda.

Homeboy Bar (Essex Rd, N1) has themed its entire menu around Irish phrases – it’s called “Fancy a Daiquiri? Ah sure go on then!” – with the ginger-spiced Go Figure worth ordering first.

The Cocktail Trading Co joins slightly later, from 20 July to 2 August, with a Classic Daiquiri, a Solero-inspired ice cream milk punch, and a Corn N Oil riff.

Learn more at ronsantiagodecuba.com.

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