6 tasty daiquiris for a sweet Mardi Gras
It’s so cold, the best way to warm up is...frozen drinks. The reverse psychology works even better if the cup you’re tipping back is filled with the signature sip of Mardi Gras, that New Orleans favorite known as a daiquiri. Originally created in Cuba as a simple rum cocktail served over ice, the daiquiri was adopted by Louisianans and turned into a sweet, boozy slushie that comes in multiple flavors and colors. Here’s where to find that liquid dessert with a kick around Philly.
It's so cold, the best way to warm up is ... frozen drinks. The reverse psychology works even better if the cup you're tipping back is filled with the signature sip of Mardi Gras, that New Orleans favorite known as a daiquiri. Originally created in Cuba as a simple rum cocktail served over ice, the daiquiri was adopted by Louisianans and turned into a sweet, boozy slushie that comes in multiple flavors and colors. Here's where to find that liquid dessert with a kick around Philly.
"Frozen daiquiris are just as legit as the unfrozen ones," says Phoebe Esmon, the woman behind the Caribbean-inspired drinks at this Fishtown tiki bar. The Tree Frog ($9) is an easy-sipping daiquiri with intense fruit flavor — it blends crushed ice with fresh banana and a syrup of allspice and galangal (like ginger, but more citrusy).
Three kinds of slushies spin in wait behind the bar at this West Philly college hang — strawberry, banana and Key lime — or you can layer them all together to get the cleverly named Stoplight (each $7.50). Many will gush forth from the spigot on Mardi Gras, when the bar will also offer that NOLA rum specialty called a Hurricane for just $5 per glass.
Since the Old City bar is already equipped with a blender to make Cuban classic mojitos, why not offer frozen daiquiris, too? Fill your glass with rum-soaked crushed ice blended with strawberries, bananas or pina colada fruits ($10 each), or get even more tropical with the Coco Libre, a blend of rum, coconut water, coconut milk and pineapple, served in a fresh coconut for $15 (refills $12 each).
Better known for pitchers of beer, this historic tavern on Drury Street in Midtown Village does frozen daiquiris as well as anyone. Offered in flavors of strawberry, peach or pina colada, the whipped cream-topped glasses go for just $5 each.
Instead of frozen, this new eclectic den tucked away on Chancellor Street in Midtown Village does daiquiris the way one of the drink's most famous acolytes liked it. The Hemingway Daiquiri is a blend of high-end white rum, fresh lime and grapefruit juice and maraschino liqueur ($10).
Even though the South Street outpost of this Louisiana-based chain will be packed on Mardi Gras, you can visit any day of the year and try one of the half-dozen flavors of true NOLA street-style daiquiris. Get a large cup filled with slush for $8.50, and add a shot for $1 more.