Along South Beach's signature, neon-clad streets, neighboring sidewalk cafes peddle menus to tourists hoping they'll stop and sit. Frozen daiquiris in varying pastel shades dot the tables. Some are served in large glass goblets, while others skip the glassware altogether and pour the pre-prepared cocktail directly from the machine into flimsy plastic cups dominated by an oversized straw.
Perhaps it's Miami's party-heavy vacation reputation coupled with the south Florida humidity and heat that have made the frozen daiquiri a signature cocktail here. Despite Cuba being the birthplace of the daiquiri clásico — a three-ingredient drink that's been called the "granddaddy of rum cocktails" — it's been outshined by the sugary slushy in the century since.
