In Key West, where Ernest Hemingway lived during the 1930s, he was known for his adventurous lifestyle. He sparred with local fighters and refereed neighborhood boxing matches, battled marlin and other giant billfish from his fishing boat Pilar, and defied the Prohibition ban on alcohol with visits to illegal speakeasies.
At the same time, he revolutionized American literature with his spare yet vivid writing style, portraying bullfighting traditions in “Death in the Afternoon” and Depression-era Key West in “To Have and Have Not.” Both classics were written during his years on the island, as was “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” which depicts the Spanish Civil War.
Today, Hemingway’s local ties are memorialized through his former home, beautifully restored and open for tours; the Hemingway Rum Company that produces Papa’s Pilar Rum, named for his later-life moniker of “Papa” and his beloved boat; and the annual Hemingway Days festival, set this year for July 23-27, with its renowned look-alike contest at his former hangout of Sloppy Joe’s.
Yet despite the late author’s literary legacy and role in Key West history, many people revere him for something else entirely: the Hemingway daiquiri, invented in his honor at the El Floridita bar in Havana, Cuba.
That daiquiri is one of the most requested offerings at Bar 1, open to the public at the Key West Cooking School’s 291 Front St. location, where both the décor and the cocktail menu salute the spirit of adventure that Hemingway personified.
The drink he inspired blends white rum, citrus juices and maraschino liqueur. Its flavor is bold and refreshing, deliberately lacking the sweetness of a traditional daiquiri since Hemingway wasn’t a fan of sweet libations.
Other standouts on Bar 1’s specialty menu are also rum-based — including the Rum Runner, which may have originated at the former Holiday Isle in Islamorada; the Key West Sunset, whose vibrant color suggests the island sky at dusk; and the Painkiller, which captures the essence of the tropics in a glass.
But for history and distinction, none can eclipse the daiquiri named for the writer whose work earned both Nobel and Pulitzer prizes.
In fact, to celebrate the upcoming National Daiquiri Day on July 19, don’t imbibe the typical version of the cocktail. Instead, mark the auspicious holiday at Bar 1 with the Hemingway daiquiri.
Or stop by Bar 1 during Hemingway Days where, surrounded by angling and literary memorabilia, it’s fitting to raise a glass to “Papa” — honoring the writer who loved Key West, sipping the same drink he enjoyed, and pondering his unparalleled place in the island’s colorful past.
Last Call
Drink of the month: Hemingway daiquiri. To craft “Papa’s” perfect daiquiri at home, combine white rum, fresh lime and grapefruit juices, maraschino liqueur and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake the mixture vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds until it’s fully chilled, and then strain it carefully into a glass — making sure no ice remains.
Helpful bar hack: When concocting a favorite rum drink, consider “raising the bar” in terms of flavor. Rather than using white or light rum, try an aged rum like Papa’s Pilar Dark to give the cocktail more body and depth.
Thirsty for more? Visit keywestcookingschool.com.
