Three Melbourne Bars To Try On Hemingway's Birthday

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Fans of the great American writer Ernest Hemingway know full well that he was a man who liked a drink. When living in Cuba in the 1930s, one of his favourite places for a daiquiri was El Floridita in Havana. But while he was certainly a lover of alcohol, he didn't have much of a sweet tooth, and so the bartender made some changes – lime juice, no sugar and twice the amount of Bacardi Carta Blanca rum.

Over time grapefruit juice and maraschino liqueur was also added to break up the tartness of the original concoction, which became known as the Hemingway daiquiri. To celebrate the great author’s birthday this Tuesday, some of Melbourne’s best cocktail spots will be making their own versions of the author's favourite beverage. Whether you bring along a copy of The Old Man And The Sea is up to you.

MADAME BRUSSELS

Tennis whites, AstroTurf, and large jugs full of saucily-named cocktails is what’s on the agenda at Madame Brussels, and it never fails to be utterly delightful. They’re sticking close to tradition here with their Hemingway daiquiri, with Bacardi Carta Blanca, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and Maraschino liqueur. There is also touch of sugar syrup to make the cocktail that little bit more inviting – and even if Hemingway may have disapproved we don’t think he’d want us to play by the rules all the time anyway. Garnished with a lime twist and ready to transport you to Havana.

Level 3, 59 Bourke Street, Melbourne

LILY BLACKS

Melbourne is known for its hidden laneway bars, but Lily Blacks in Meyers Place is the one we like wandering down to the best – especially when it’s time for a cocktail. They have a tower of spirits, hand cut ice, an impressive collection of bitters and – the main attraction – the Breakfast at Hemmingway’s cocktail. In a massive shirking of convention, they use Bacardi 8 as opposed to Bacardi Carta Blanca, but the fun doesn’t stop there. Throw in two bar spoons Rose's breakfast marmalade, lime juice, shake and double strain. Then it’s time to make the foam, with yellow grapefruit juice, J Cartron pink grapefruit liqueur, egg white, electric maraschino juice and a small pinch of xanthan gum. The whole thing is then garnished with grated cinnamon for a soft touch of spice.

12 Meyers Place, Melbourne

THE RUM DIARY BAR

As the name may suggest, there is enough rum here to sink a pirate ship, with 170 varieties and counting. They specialise in rum-based cocktails and provide an environment to sip on them that is both relaxing and inviting, with staff who are knowledgeable without being pretentious. These guys love their daiquiris so much they dedicated last Sunday (National Daiquiri Day) to host masterclasses and a speed making competition. Hemming’s Wow Daiquiri is what you should be consuming this Tuesday, made from Bacardi Carta Blanca, pomegranate juice, grapefruit juice, Maraschino liqueur and cardamom syrup. Here’s cheers to the great man and the rum he loved so dear.

334 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Top image: Cocktailmarler - Wikimedia Commons.