Bacardi Cocktail

The Bacardi Cocktail is a simple yet elegant drink, closely related to the classic Daiquiri. It combines light rum, fresh lime juice, and grenadine to create a beautifully balanced sweet and sour profile. The grenadine not only adds a touch of fruity sweetness but also gives the cocktail its signature pale pink color. It's a shaken, strained cocktail served straight up, perfect for showcasing the qualities of a good light rum.
Bacardi Cocktail

Preparation

Preparation time: 3 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Bacardi Cocktail is a classic cocktail, belonging to the sour family of drinks. It is often considered an "all day" cocktail, suitable for enjoyment at various times.

Serving

Served cold and straight up in a chilled coupe or cocktail glass, this is a moderately strong drink with an ABV around 20-25%.
Serving size
Approximately 120 ml / 4 oz
Alcohol content
Approximately 20-25% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Coupe
Glass treatment
Chilled

Backstory

The drink's history is intertwined with the Bacardí rum company. After its creation in Cuba around 1917, it became immensely popular in the United States. Its fame led to a landmark 1936 New York Supreme Court ruling that declared a "Bacardi Cocktail" must legally be made with Bacardí rum to be called by that name. This case cemented its identity and distinguished it from a simple Daiquiri with grenadine.
Origin
Created in Cuba around 1917, the recipe gained widespread popularity and was first published in cocktail books in the 1930s.

Bacardi Cocktail

The drink is sometimes called the Bacardi Special. Due to its pink hue from grenadine and similarity to the Daiquiri, it's occasionally referred to as a Pink Daiquiri, though this is not its official name.
Original name
Bacardi Cocktail
Alternative names
  • Bacardi Special
  • Pink Daiquiri

Characteristics overview

The Bacardi Cocktail offers a refreshing balance of sweet and sour flavors with a dominant rum and citrus character. It has a smooth, light texture and a crisp, clean finish, with a beautiful pale pink appearance.
Flavor
Tart, Sweet, Fruity, Rum-forward, Citrusy
Aroma
Lime zest, Sugarcane, Pomegranate
Taste balance
Sweet, Sour
Aftertaste
Clean, Crisp, Short
Fizziness
None
Color appearance
Pale pink, Clear, Translucent
Texture
Smooth, Light-bodied
Seasonality
Refreshing, Summery, Year-round

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor profile is dominated by a pleasant sourness from lime, balanced by the sweetness and fruitiness of grenadine. It has a moderate alcohol strength and is not carbonated.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

This cocktail requires three simple ingredients: Bacardí light rum, freshly squeezed lime juice, and grenadine syrup for color and sweetness.
  • Bacardí Superior Rum60 ml / 2 oz
    By a 1936 court ruling, it must be made with Bacardí rum to be legally called a Bacardi Cocktail.
  • Fresh Lime Juice22.5 ml / 0.75 oz
    Freshly squeezed juice is essential for the best flavor.
  • Grenadine10 ml / 1/3 oz
    Provides color and a fruity sweetness. The quality of the grenadine will significantly impact the drink.

Ice type

  • Cubed ice for shaking, served with no ice

Mixing equipments

You will need a standard cocktail shaker set, including a jigger for measuring and strainers, to prepare this drink. A citrus juicer is also recommended for fresh lime juice.
  • Cocktail shaker
  • Jigger or measuring tool
  • Hawthorne and fine-mesh strainers
  • Citrus juicer

Instructions

The preparation involves chilling a glass, shaking the rum, lime juice, and grenadine with ice, and then double-straining the mixture into the prepared glass to serve.
1. Chill your coupe or cocktail glass by filling it with ice or placing it in the freezer.
2. Add the Bacardí rum, fresh lime juice, and grenadine to a cocktail shaker.
3. Fill the shaker three-quarters full with cubed ice.
4. Shake vigorously for about 12-15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is well-chilled.
5. Discard the ice from your chilled glass.
6. Double-strain the mixture from the shaker into the chilled glass to remove any ice shards.
7. Garnish with a lime wheel on the rim or drop in a maraschino cherry.

Garnishing

The garnish is simple, typically a lime wheel or wedge on the rim of the glass. A maraschino cherry can also be added for extra color and a hint of flavor.
  • Lime wheel or wedge, placed on the rim of the glass
  • Maraschino cherry, dropped into the drink (optional)

Dietary Information

This cocktail is naturally free from common allergens like dairy, eggs, soy, nuts, and gluten. It is also suitable for both vegetarian and vegan diets.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

A single serving contains around 190 kcal and about 9 grams of carbohydrates, nearly all of which are sugars from the grenadine and lime juice.
Calories
Approximately 180-200 kcal / 753-837 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Approximately 8-10 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Approximately 8-10 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This is a versatile cocktail suitable for parties, happy hour gatherings, or as a refreshing summer drink. Its light and crisp character also make it an excellent pre-dinner aperitif.
  • Party
  • Happy Hour
  • Summer Drink
  • Pre-dinner Drink

Pairing suggestions

The Bacardi Cocktail's bright, citrusy profile pairs well with light seafood dishes, salty appetizers, and Cuban-inspired cuisine. Its refreshing nature cuts through rich and savory flavors, making it a versatile food companion.
  • Light appetizers
  • Seafood dishes like ceviche
  • Salty snacks
  • Cuban sandwiches

The Bacardi Cocktail: A Legally Classic Sip of History

The Bacardi Cocktail is a historic and legally protected classic, closely related to the Daiquiri but distinguished by its use of grenadine and, by law, Bacardí rum. It's a beautifully simple sour cocktail, offering a perfect balance of tart lime and sweet pomegranate notes against a light rum backbone. Served straight up in a chilled coupe, its appealing pink hue and refreshing character have made it an enduring favorite for over a century. It is an easy-to-make, elegant drink suitable for any occasion that calls for a crisp and flavorful cocktail.

Similar Cocktails

Daiquiri

The classic Daiquiri uses simple syrup instead of grenadine, resulting in a clear or pale green color and a less fruity, more direct lime and sugar cane flavor.

Hemingway Daiquiri

A more complex variation of the Daiquiri, it adds maraschino liqueur and grapefruit juice, and omits the sugar, making it drier and more bitter.

Clover Club

A gin-based sour that also has a pink hue, but gets its color from raspberry syrup (or grenadine) and its texture from egg white.

Jack Rose

Uses applejack or calvados as the base spirit instead of rum, but shares the lime/lemon juice and grenadine components.

El Presidente

A more complex Cuban rum cocktail that uses dry vermouth and orange curaçao instead of lime and grenadine, creating a sophisticated, less sour drink.

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