An ode to ’70s cocktails

Frozen Daiquiri

The original Daiquiri was invented in 1905 in a bar in Santiago, Cuba. However, the cigar proved the superior export from that industrious, semitropical island. It must have been in the ’70s that the Daiquiri—a stolid, masculine import—came out of the closet as the Frozen Daiquiri, a flamboyant, blended, fruity life-of-the-party. Sort of like John Leguizamo in “To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar.”

The taste
You know those people who hate alcoholic drinks? They like Frozen Daiquiris—at least, if they can handle a Jamba Juice they do. Rather than the potentially sour/bitter/syrupy sweet base of most other cocktails, an Frozen Daiquiri, when done right, tastes like actual fresh fruit and feels like a thick smoothie. This is considered a chick drink, but on the plus side, if you're a guy drinking one, you're probably hanging out with chicks. Fast imbibing can lead to painful brain freeze, which is still a lot less dangerous and cheaper than that other ’70s brain freeze: cocaine.

The recipe
1 1/2 ounces light rum
1 tablespoon triple sec
1 1/2 ounces lime juice
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup crushed ice

Combine rum, triple sec, lime juice, sugar and crushed ice in a blender. Blend on low speed for several seconds. Switch to high speed until liquid is firm. Pour contents into a tall, thin glass (Champagne glass optional), and garnish with a cherry.

*Note: The Frozen Daiquiri is a highly flexible, improvisational drink—an alcoholic smoothie, if you will. Popular fruits to throw in the blender include strawberries, bananas and peaches, either individually or in any combination suited to taste. Others to consider: mangoes, raspberries, kiwi, blueberries, pineapple, nectarines, apricots.

Where to order one
Fiesta Cantina
Lola's