Grass Skirt Daiquiri

A few weeks ago, we shared a tutorial on how to make a grass skirt tiki garnish. These are one of Nicole’s favorite garnishes to make because they are so cute, but they do take a little bit of extra time to prepare when you compare the process to simply putting a lime wedge and a cocktail umbrella in your drink (not that there is anything wrong with that approach!), so we like to make sure we have a drink that is worthy of being served with one on the side.

The Grass Skirt Daiquiri is a drink that delivers a little twist on a basic daiquiri by adding in a little sugar and spice, making the drink fun and flavorful enough to deserve a playful garnish. The basic ingredients in this smooth and refreshing cocktail are white rum, fresh lime juice and Velvet Falernum, which tastes almost like a daiquiri on its own and adds a complimentary sweetness to the fresh lime juice.  We used demerara rum in this recipe because it has a very smooth, clean flavor that lets the other ingredients shine. We also add in a splash of out spiced simple syrup and a bit of Luxardo. You can use regular simple syrup, but the spice-infused syrup works beautifully with the spice in the Velvet Falernum and adds a extra complexity to the drink.

It’s a great cocktail, but even we have to admit that the garnish alone is going to sell most people on trying it. If you put a lime hula skirt on your drinks at parties, people are going to reach for them first without even asking what the drink is. Fortunately, this delicious drink will soon have them forgetting about the garnish and coming back for another round.

Grass Skirt Daiquiri
1 1/2 oz white rum (recommend Demerara rum)
1/2 oz lime juice
1/2 oz Velvet Falernum
1/2 oz spiced simple syrup
1/4 oz Luxardo

Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass, then fill with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a grass skirt.