As we settle into New Orleans this week for Tales of the Cocktail, one part of this amazing, historic city is as apparent as it is unavoidable: the heat. With an extended forecast that tops out around 95° F (and humidity pushing 75%), it’s easy to see why the Frozen Daiquiri has become such a mainstay in the Big Easy. Nothing cools you down quite like crushed ice, fruity syrups, and overproof booze.
The Daiquiris that New Orleans is known for bear little resemblance to the classic blend of lime juice, simple syrup, and white rum that we’ve come to know and love. If anything, they’re closer relatives to the 7-Eleven Slurpee, albeit one that snuck into a frat party. But that’s not to disparage them—in fact, quite the contrary. The Frozen Daiquiri has managed to transcend the mundane and carve out its own, special corner of NOLA booze culture.
The Frozen Daiquiri lineup at New Orleans Original Daiquiris | Photo: Will Shenton
The first thing most people hear about when it comes to the New Orleans Daiquiri is that, yes, you can get it at a drive-through. It’s a bit of a shocking novelty at first, particularly for those of us who grew up in the Northeast or West Coast (what with our open container laws), but the experience is so damn fun that you quickly forget how strange it is to be getting a cocktail through the window of a car. For those of you who’ve never been, we recommend watching Anthony Bourdain order one from the back of a cab.
The drinks themselves, thanks to the creative folks at Daiquiri joints like New Orleans Original Daiquiris, come in more colors, flavors, and proofs than we thought possible. Favorites range from the relatively tame Mango, Strawberry, and Amaretto Pineapple to the slightly more, er, adventurous “Swampwater.” Rum is not a requisite ingredient, and base spirits in these bad boys can be anything from tequila to straight-up grain alcohol. The only requirement, as far as we can tell, is that they be as high-proof as possible.
So, while we’re often inclined more towards the simple and classic than the modern and fluorescently neon, on this National Daiquiri Day we’re going to be mixing it up with some New Orleans favorites instead. When in Rome, drink as the Romans do, right?
Photos: Will Shenton, Bevvy
This is so interesting, thanks for posting!