London bars mark Daiquiri Day with limited-edition menus and Cuban rum celebrations

Daiquiri Day falls this Sunday 19^th July, and there is a fitting historical symmetry to this year’s celebrations. The cocktail was reportedly invented in 1898 near Santiago de Cuba, when American mining engineer Jennings Cobb, having run out of gin, combined local rum with lime and sugar. More than a century later, that three-ingredient formula remains largely unchanged – and rum’s fortunes are rising sharply. In 2025, UK on-trade rum sales surpassed £1 billion for the first time, overtaking whisky in pubs and bars.

Against this backdrop, a number of London venues are marking the occasion this weekend, many in partnership with Ron Santiago de Cuba. Several of the capital’s bartenders have devised limited-edition daiquiri menus, and alongside the drinks, participating venues are hosting giveaways, live Cuban music nights and other entertainment. The celebration nods to the tipple’s Cuban origins, offering drinkers a chance to explore variations on the classic, ranging from faithful classics to more experimental riffs, spanning frozen variations, Irish-inspired twists and month-long menus. 

A Cuban Escape at Callooh Callay, Shoreditch

For one month, the lounge at Shoreditch bar Callooh Callay has been reimagined as a Cuban Escape, drawing on the atmosphere of Havana’s streets. The centrepiece is a limited-edition menu built around the daiquiri, with each drink priced at £13. Among the options is a Frozen Guinness Rum Punch, which pairs the Irish stout with rum in a chilled, blended format, and the Dulce Oriente, which carries a noticeable kick of absinthe. The temporary residency offers a seasonal reason to visit, and gives regular patrons a change of scene alongside a focused selection of rum-based cocktails.

Innovative formulas at Little Bat, Islington

Tucked away on Islington Park Street, Little Bat has built its reputation on the daiquiri, the deceptively simple rum cocktail that rewards precision. Their Dry Daiquiri offers a case in point, combining Ron Santiago de Cuba Carta Blanca with lime, passionfruit, Campari and yuzu syrup for a drink that balances sharpness with a bitter edge. Those after something more indulgent might turn to the Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri, while the Oriente Oro leans into dark fruit and chocolate notes for a richer finish. It is a menu that treats a familiar classic as a starting point rather than a formula.

Fruity frozen versions at The March Hare, King’s Road

Tucked along Chelsea’s King’s Road, The March Hare offers a selection of frozen daiquiris for those seeking a cooling drink. The menu includes three variations on the classic cocktail: a frozen banana daiquiri, a mango version, and a strawberry and coconut blend. Each takes the traditional rum-based daiquiri and reworks it into a slushy, fruit-forward format, better suited to warmer afternoons than the sharper, shaken original. Found at 316-318 King’s Road, the venue provides a straightforward option for anyone in the area wanting a frozen cocktail without venturing far from this well-trodden stretch of south-west London.

A taste trio at Silk Stockings, Dalston

For one month only, Silk Stockings on Dalston Lane is turning its attention to Cuban rum. Throughout July, the bar is pouring a trio of cocktails built around Ron Santiago de Cuba. The Cuban Breeze pairs Carta Blanca with fresh mint, lime, coconut and a syrup liqueur, offering a lighter, tropical option. There is also a Mandarin Daiquiri for those after something sharper and citrus-forward. For a more considered drink, the Santiago Orchard combines the 11-year-old Añejo with Licor 43, cloudy apple juice, lime and soda. All three are available until the end of the month.

Emerald Isle interpretations at Homeboy Bar, Essex Road

Homeboy Bar on Essex Road has introduced a limited-edition menu of rum-based cocktails inspired by Irish turns of phrase. Titled Fancy a Daiquiri? Ah Sure Go On Then!, the list plays on the familiar rhythms of Irish conversation, translating them into drinks. Among the offerings is Go Figure, which combines dried fruit and ginger spice with a gentle sweetness, resulting in a warming, mellow profile. The Islington bar, known for its Irish influences and rum focus, leans into national character throughout the menu, pairing recognisable phrases with cocktails that reflect the wit and hospitality behind them.

Classics to ice cream variations at The Cocktail Trading Co, Soho

To mark Daiquiri Day, this Soho bar is running a fortnight-long celebration from 20^th July to 2^nd August, built around three drinks made with Ron Santiago de Cuba rum. Purists can order the Classic Daiquiri, a straightforward blend of rum, lime and sugar that remains one of the simplest tests of a bar’s skill. Those after something sweeter might prefer the Solero Ice Cream Milk Punch, and finally there’s a riff on a Corn ‘n’ Oil (the Caribbean classic with aged Barbados rum, falernum, lime juice and Angostura bitters) for those on the adventurous side.

Food Desk