Thursday, February 24, 2011

Daiquiris

Daiquiris are a tropical delight that many people have fallen in love with while on summer vacation or partying on their pool deck. As the cocktail industry grows, more and more pre-made daiquiri mixes come on the market, all in varying degrees of quality. Long thought to be a specialty drink, best prepared by a professional bartender at your local bar, many people have become hip to the ways of creating picture-perfect daiquiris. As equipment improves, and our taste palettes evolve, so does the home daiquiri. What was once a drink limited to a few basic flavors, daiquiris are only as limited as the imaginations of the bartenders who create them.


Types


A simple daiquiri can be made with light rum, lime juice and crushed ice. One of the reasons daiquiris are such a popular drink is the grand variety of flavors that can be incorporated into the cocktail. Because the only main ingredients are light rum and fruit juice, a home bartender can make a daiquiri to suit individual tastes. Over the years, strawberry and banana daiquiris have become two of the more popular varieties. Pina Colada's are, in fact, an extremely popular coconut and pineapple daiquiri varietal.


Function


Daiquiris are a great party drink. As those who frequently entertain guests at pool parties, especially during the warm summer months, will attest daiquiris are perfect for guests looking to beat the heat. Of course, most of these parties aren't serving virgin daiquiris so party goers should be prepared for that extra punch the light rum adds to the drink. It is certainly no myth that alcohol has been known to liven up parties and daiquiris are no exception.








Size


Ideally, daiquiris should be prepared in single- or double-serving sizes. A typical serving will require at least one cup of ice, one jigger of rum, 2 to 3 oz. of fruit juice and at least 1 tsp. of simple sugar syrup. All of these ingredients can be adjusted to taste but it is usually best to stick with the basic recipe when entertaining guests. Simply double the recipe when making daiquiris for two people. Depending on the size of your blender, two servings may be the maximum that can be prepared at once.


Misconceptions


Daiquiris can be time consuming to prepare, especially if you are making them for groups of people at a summer party. There are a few things you can do to lighten the workload and streamline the production process. Make sure you have all of your applicable ingredients portioned in a clean workspace. If possible, have a workstation with one designated blender for each flavor of daiquiri being prepared. Having a designated blender will save you from having to wash the vessel after each preparation.


Warning


It goes without saying that consuming too many daiquiris does not make for a good time. When hosting guests you should always monitor the alcohol intake of your party goers. In today's litigious society, a homeowner could easily be liable for a guest's excessive consumption of alcohol. Always have plenty of bottled water on hand and arrange for third-party transportation if your guest is unable to drive home.

Tags: designated blender, fruit juice, have become, many people, many people have