Daiquiri

Our Man in Havana, Graham Greene, 1958

2 oz. lightly aged rum

½ oz. fresh lime juice

1 teaspoon caster (superfine) sugar

1 lime wheel, for garnish

Chill a coupe in the freezer.

Place the rum, lime juice, and sugar in a cocktail shaker, fill it two-thirds of the way with ice, and shake until chilled.

Strain into the chilled coupe, garnish with the lime wheel, and enjoy.

“Have you ever seen so many whiskies?”

“As a matter of fact I have. I collect miniatures and I have ninety-nine at home.”

“Interesting. And what’s your choice today? A dimpled Haig?”

“Thanks, I’ve just ordered a daiquiri.”

“Can’t take those things. They relax me.”

This satirical novel, set in Cuba before the rise of Fidel Castro, mocks intelligence services. In Cuba, a vacuum salesman, James Wormold, is approached about doing work for British intelligence. He agrees, but having nothing to report, he starts making things up. In this scene, Wormold is sounded out about his drink preferences, and he goes with a Daiquiri, a Caribbean-themed cocktail that is not the adult frozen slushie you might think of when you hear the word—the original version of the drink (that was probably invented in the late nineteenth century) is simply rum mixed with sugar and lime.