I mistakenly believed that the Daiquiri was invented at El Floridita; however, it wasn’t. An American engineer, Jennings Cox, created the drink in 1898 by mixing rum, lime juice, sugar, and ice. It was named after the Daiquiri mine near Playa Daiquiri in Cuba.

The drink moved to Havana, where in the 1930s Constantino Rubalaigua Vert made the frozen version at El Floridata. Thus, it’s the frozen variety that made this Havana bar famous.

I certainly had one at El Floridia, as well as many others in different bars and at the Casa where I was staying. I can’t remember if the El Foridita version was any better. Still, it was nice to have a frozen one at its palace of origin. Just like having the Singapore Sling at its birthplace.

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