Strawberry Vanilla Daiquiri

You can’t go wrong with quality white rum, fresh muddled strawberries, and lime juice. Add some vanilla syrup, and you have one romantic daiquiri for Valentine’s Day!

The daiquiri is a brilliant classic cocktail originating in Cuba and named for the town it was invented in. Although neon-colored, sugary, frozen versions are unfortunately what many people think of when they hear the word, all you need for a true daiquiri is some rum, lime juice and a bit of simple syrup.

If you’ve never had a ‘real’ daiquiri, you’re missing out on one of the most delicious and refreshing classic cocktails out there!

The classic daiquiri recipe template is very easy to modify, so I’ve made this Valentine’s Day version fruity with muddled strawberries and swapped simple syrup for a decadent vanilla bean simple syrup. You can buy vanilla syrup at most grocery stores, but the flavor of homemade vanilla bean syrup is second to none!

If you don’t have whole vanilla beans, you can also make a vanilla syrup by adding high quality, real vanilla extract to a simple syrup, to taste. To make simple syrup, simply combine equal parts white sugar and water and stir briskly until all of the sugar has dissolved (it really only takes a few minutes!). Store the syrup in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

This Strawberry Vanilla Daiquiri is smooth, fruity, and pleasantly sweet, with enough lime juice to brighten and balance, and enough rum to bring it to life. This recipe is very versatile – I recommend also trying it with blackberries or raspberries instead of strawberries!