Daiquiri Deck — A St. Armands fixture

The Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar was established in 1993 by its founders Troy Syprett, Russell Matthes, and Matthew Grover.  They are open daily from 11:00 am until 2:00 am, featuring their legendary Happy Hour from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, seven days a week!  They have a huge selection of tropical dishes, a full bar and, of course, their famous daiquiris.

The history behind the origination of the daiquiri is quite an interesting one!  Daiquiri is also the name of a beach near Santiago de Cuba.  The drink was allegedly invented by an American engineer, Jennings Cox, who was in Cuba during the Spanish–American War.

Originally, the drink was served in a tall glass packed with ice cubes.  A teaspoon of sugar was then poured over the ice and lime juice was squeezed over the sugar.  Two to three ounces of white rum completed the delicious mixture and the glass was then frosted after being stirred with a long-handled spoon.  Later, the daiquiri evolved to be mixed in a shaker with the same ingredients, but with shaved ice.

The drink became popular in the 1940s.  Wartime rationing made whiskey and vodka hard to come by, but because of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Good Neighbor Policy, rum was easily obtainable as the Policy opened up trade relations with Latin America, Cuba, and the Caribbean.  Consequently, rum-based drinks became fashionable, and the daiquiri saw a tremendous rise in popularity in the US.  It was one of the favorite drinks of writer Ernest Hemingway and President John F. Kennedy.

The Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar is the best place to sip on this iconic drink while looking out over stunning St. Armands Circle.  The St. Armands location was opened in 2010 with the downstairs expansion in 2015.  You can relax with friends while you enjoy the best night life on Lido Key with live music, tasty treats, and the best daiquiris anywhere!

For more information and to join Team Rawsome, please go to daiquirideck.com.