What We're Drinking: The Dharma Daiquiri

by Fredo

I stumbled upon this excellent rendition of the Daiquiri quite by accident. See, I ran out of rum at the home bar. Usually, I'm using Ron Pampero Anniversario (Venezuela) or 10 Cane Rum but that day I had nothing. Nada. Niente. So I began scouring my reserves for Plan B, there had to be a bottle of Bacardi forchrisake. Then I came across a dusty round little bottle of Old Monk Rum. It was given to me five years ago by my friend Killer Kalman of San Francisco. Unfortunately, I put it into the black hole that is my reserves. Well necessity is the mother of invention plus I was really thirsty for a daiquiri, so I dusted the round bottle's textured glass off and got to work.

Old Monk is a blended Indian rum, aged for 7 years, and is 85 proof. The amber colored rum exhibits an earthy flavor reminiscent of nut meg, caramel, and vanilla. When used as a Daiquiri ingredient, Old Monk compliments the citrus of the fresh lime and doesn't overwhelm the sweet yet spicy taste of the Demerara-Ginger simple syrup.


DHARMA DAIQUIRI
1 1/2 oz Old Monk 7 year aged Rum
1 oz Demerara-Ginger Simple Syrup
3/4 oz Fresh Lime

Combine ingredients in shaker over ice, shake rigorously for 10-12 seconds, serve up in a chilled coupe or martini glass.

How to make Demerara-Ginger sugar simple syrup - Combine 1 cup Demerara sugar, 1 cup filtered water, and 1 bunch peeled ginger in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved and syrup just comes to a boil. Then strain the ginger parts. Stored in refrigerator until cooled.

After a few Dharma Daiquiris you are certain to feel enlightenment.