Louisiana Daiquiris

A Weird, Yet Wonderful, Louisiana Tradition BY ADAM BAILEY The Frozen Daiquiri:

People often wonder how Louisianans survive the heat and humidity during the summer months. Two words—frozen daiquiris! The best part about this refreshing, sugary cocktail is that you don’t have to leave your air-conditioned vehicles to get them. Just pull your car or truck up to the nearest drive-through Just pull your car or truck up to the nearest drive-through liquor store and order a daiquiri off the menu. You can choose from 32-ounce, 44-ounce or even gallon-sized choose from 32-ounce, 44-ounce or even gallon-sized portions. Pay the attendant, who’ll pass you your drinks portions. Pay the attendant, who’ll pass you your drinks in a large Styrofoam cup through the driver’s side win-in a large Styrofoam cup through the driver’s side win dow, and drive away. That’s all there is to it!

History of the Daiquiri

It is difficult to know for certain the exact circumstances surrounding the birth of the daiquiri cocktail. Many do, however, agree on its creator—Jennings Stockton Cox. As the story goes, Cox was an American engineer who lived and worked in Cuba after the Spanish-American War. One night, after running out of gin while throwing a cocktail party, rum proved a convenient substitute in a punch he was serving. Along with the newly substituted rum, the drink was made with brown sugar and limes—since lemons were unheard of in Cuba—then presented to his guests in a tall glass with cracked ice. Obviously, it turned out to be a huge hit, so Cox christened it the “Daiquiri,” naming the cocktail after the nearby port town.

It is difficult to know for certain the exact circumstances surrounding the birth of the daiquiri cocktail. Many do, however, agree on its creator—Jennings Stockton Cox. As the story goes, Cox was an American engineer who lived and worked in Cuba after the Spanish-American War. One night, after running out of gin while throwing a cocktail party, rum proved a convenient substitute in a punch he was serving. Along with the newly substituted rum, the drink was made with brown sugar and limes—since lemons were unheard of in Cuba—then presented to his guests in a tall glass with cracked ice. Obviously, it turned out to be a huge hit, so Cox christened it the “Daiquiri,” naming the cocktail after the nearby port town. ing and driving. And although his business experienced cess (at least for Erwin). By the mid-1980s, dozens of

A Short History of Drive-Through Daiquiris in Louisiana

When it comes to frozen daiquiris and Louisiana history, David Ervin opened The Daiquiri Factory in Lafayette in 1981. At the time, the state had no laws against drinking and driving. And although his business experienced some pushback from the community, it wasn’t enough to shut it down (or even dampen its popularity). After all, Louisianans love their alcohol. The drive-through daiquiri stand was an overnight success (at least for Erwin). By the mid-1980s, dozens of competitors were opening all over the state. Today, they are now a part of everyday life. Located mainly in strip malls and in the suburbs, most daiquiri stands make their living not from drunken out-of-towners, but from locals stopping by on their way to or from another part of their lives. Many patrons will pick up a gallon of daiquiris to loosen up a family or work party.

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How is this Legal? How is this Legal? Addressing the elephant in the room—yes, the driveAddressing the elephant in the room—yes, the drivethrough daiquiri stand is 100% legal in Louisiana. A small through daiquiri stand is 100% legal in Louisiana. A small piece of tape is all that prevents customers from getting pulled over and charged with driving with an open con-pulled over and charged with driving with an open con tainer. According to Dr. Michael Mizell-Nelson, a former history professor at the University of New Orleans, the whole tape on the lid phenomenon got started when La-whole tape on the lid phenomenon got started when La fayette introduced a law “forbidding open containers of alcohol in moving vehicles.” This caused Erwin’s Daiqui-alcohol in moving vehicles.” This caused Erwin’s Daiqui ri Factory to get creative and claim that their containers were sealed because “the lids were taped to foam cups.” were sealed because “the lids were taped to foam cups.” Like in Lafayette, open container laws would soon spread Like in Lafayette, open container laws would soon spread throughout the state, as did the ‘tape on the lid’ phenom-throughout the state, as did the ‘tape on the lid’ phenom enon. Today, Louisiana’s Open Container Law (LSA enon. Today, Louisiana’s Open Container Law (LSA 32:300) pretty much states that a frozen daiquiri isn’t an 32:300) pretty much states that a frozen daiquiri isn’t an open container unless “the lid is removed, a straw pro open container unless “the lid is removed, a straw protrudes therefrom, or the contents of the receptacle have trudes therefrom, or the contents of the receptacle have been partially removed.” Decades and millions of daiquiris later, interpretation of Louisiana’s open container law still exists today. Just remember to keep the cup lid on, and wait until you get home to insert the straw and drink it. home to insert the straw and drink it. one sitting, while it is said John F. Kennedy sipped daiquiris when he beat Nixon in the 1960 presidential election. Today, these sugary frozen rum drinks can be found in just about every liquor store or drive-through daiquiri shop in Shreveport-Bossier, and come in just about every flavor you can think of. There are the predictable tropical seasonal flavors— like the peach Bellini, Rum Runner and Pina Colada. A few crazy, cool concoctions include the Blueberry Thrill (blueberry schnapps, pineapple and rum) and the F.U.B.A.R with over 14 types of liquor! The Sexy Lady mixes a Sex on the Beach with a Gold Margarita to include wildberry schnapps, cranberry, orange juice, 190, tequila, gran gala, and lime. Other offerings include Purple Rain, Lemonshock, 190, Antifreeze, Strawberry Colada, Jungle Juice, and the ominous-sounding Suicide. Believe-it-or-not, Shreveport has its own famous daiquiri invention—the Eggnog Daiquiri—invented by mistake about 20 years ago by the late Mike Cordaro of Tony’s Liquor. That recipe, and all its goodness, remains a Cordaro family secret to this day. Of course, it’s only available for a few months a year. No matter your taste, there is a multitude of slushee machines in the area, churning dozens of neon-colored flavors of daiquiri varieties full of its alcohol, flavored frozen richness. If none of these offerings signals a cool celebration of summer, I’m not sure what does.

What’ll It Be, Honey?

Ernest Hemingway could put away 15 frozen daiquiris in one sitting, while it is said John F. Kennedy sipped daiquiris when he beat Nixon in the 1960 presidential election. Today, these sugary frozen rum drinks can be found in just about every liquor store or drive-through daiquiri shop in Shreveport-Bossier, and come in just about every flavor you can think of. There are the predictable tropical seasonal flavors— like the peach Bellini, Rum Runner and Pina Colada. A few crazy, cool concoctions include the Blueberry Thrill (blueberry schnapps, pineapple and rum) and the F.U.B.A.R with over 14 types of liquor! The Sexy Lady mixes a Sex on the Beach with a Gold Margarita to include wildberry schnapps, cranberry, orange juice, 190, tequila, gran gala, and lime. Other offerings include Purple Rain, Lemonshock, 190, Antifreeze, Strawberry Colada, Jungle Juice, and the ominous-sounding Suicide. Believe-it-or-not, Shreveport has its own famous daiquiri invention—the Eggnog Daiquiri—invented by mistake about 20 years ago by the late Mike Cordaro of Tony’s Liquor. That recipe, and all its goodness, remains a Cordaro family secret to this day. Of course, it’s only available for a few months a year. No matter your taste, there is a multitude of slushee machines in the area, churning dozens of neon-colored flavors of daiquiri varieties full of its alcohol, flavored frozen richness. If none of these offerings signals a cool celebration of summer, I’m not sure what does.