Bacardi Special cocktail in a coupe glass

Bacardi Cocktail

The Bacardi Cocktail is a relatively simple rum based cocktail that was the precursor to the only slightly more complicated Bacardi Special. Both cocktails are wonderful though!

In a lot of way, the Bacardi Cocktail is really just a Classic Daiquiri that adds some grenadine to it. And by "a lot of ways," we mean, that's essentially what it is! It's the same ingredients with grenadine added. So if you already have the ingredients for a Daiquiri, just add grenadine and you're good to go.

Although the Bacardi Cocktail is called the Bacardi Cocktail, you're welcome to use any kind of white rum you desire. Bacardi, of course, goes well here, but the world of white rum is vast and you may have something you enjoy a bit more. In fact, some earlier versions of this recipe only differentiated the Bacardi Cocktail from a Daiquiri because it used Bacardi, and it didn't have grenadine. It's unclear when grenadine first started getting used in the Bacardi Cocktail; it may have been how it was originally made in Cuba in the early 1900's, or it could have gotten introduced to the recipe when it was imported to the United States.

Either way you look at it, the Bacardi Cocktail certainly is tasty!

Total Time 3

Servings 1 cocktail

Ingredients

60 mL White rum
15 mL Lime juice
5 mL Grenadine
5 mL Simple syrup*
Cherry to garnish

Instructions

Add rum, lime juice, grenadine, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake all ingredients.
Strain into a coupe glass.
Garnish and serve.

Notes

*See our simple syrup recipe.

Like the Daiquiri, the Bacardi cocktail has and can be served frozen as well. This would just involve putting all the ingredients in a blender with ice. While some people like frozen cocktails like this, others feel it waters things down too much and takes away from the classic aspects of cocktails like this. We'll leave it up to you!

Either way you enjoy the Bacardi Cocktail, make sure the white rum you're using is of good quality and that the lime juice is fresh. There's very little to hide behind in a cocktail with few ingredients like this, so make all the ingredients count!

Our Review of the Bacardi Cocktail

I like rum, lime juice, and sugar. That means I like a Daiquiri!

And I say that because the Bacardi Cocktail is essentially just a Daiquiri made with the addition of grenadine. So, the obvious thing to say about this cocktail is that, if you like a Classic Daiquiri, the Bacardi Cocktail is probably one to put on your menu. From there, the obvious question is whether or not the Bacardi Cocktail is different and special enough from a standard Daiquiri to be worth your while.

I’m going to say that yes, the Bacardi Cocktail is different and special enough, but just barely. Personally, I don’t think this cocktail needs the additional simple syrup, it’s sweet enough with just the grenadine and still has plenty of tang from the lime juice. With the simple syrup, you’re just getting sweetness, lose both the grenadine flavour and the flavours of the rum and lime juice. Then it’s venturing into a boring cocktail.

But I did say that the Bacardi Cocktail is “barely” different enough from a Daiquiri. That’s not a bad thing though. A lot of cocktails are very simple or just minor variations on what came before. I certainly like a good Daiquiri from time to time, and the Bacardi Cocktail is a great way to change up the standard every now and then.

If you’ve never had a Bacardi Cocktail, I’d suggest making one. It works just as well as a Daiquiri, but is just a little bit different to change up an old favourite. Make sure you have a bottle of grenadine at home, and keep it on hand to change things up.

7.5/10

Review by Ziggy

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