A Havana Especial cocktail, a truly Cuban serve, and a Caribbean beach make the perfect recipe for relaxation
The Havana Especial is a 100% Cuban drink, the perfect weapon against the intense Caribbean sun while enjoying the tropical climate on a beautiful Cuban beach. Its origins date back to the second decade of the 20th century, specifically to 1912, when the American millionaire Henry Flagler built a railway route he called “The Havana Special”, which also enabled Cuba to take advantage of the new logistics network and consolidate its role as an important supplier to the North American market.
Thanks to that route, thousands of North American tourists arrived in Cuba every year.
Ships would dock in Havana for several days before continuing eastward across the country, giving tourists time to discover the city. For that reason, most of them made their way to El Floridita bar and had the chance to meet Constantino Ribalaigua, the king of Cuban bartenders, an encounter that allowed them to taste the Habana Especial made by its creator.
The recipe calls for a good Cuban rum, pineapple juice, maraschino liqueur, lemon juice and sugar syrup. In its original form it did not include maraschino liqueur, only equal parts rum and pineapple juice with just a touch of sugar.
An early version of the Havana Especial cocktail appeared in the recipe book of El Floridita bar under the name “Habana Beach”. In the same book, another similar cocktail can be found under the name Miami Beach. That one used gin. Of course, gin was fashionable at the time, but as American tourists boarded the ferry from Miami to Havana, they would often swap gin for the island’s own spirit: rum.
How to make the Havana Especial cocktail
Ingredients for the Havana Especial cocktail:
- Havana Club Añejo Blanco rum (45 ml)
- Pineapple juice (45 ml)
- Maraschino (5 ml)
- Crushed ice (to taste)
- A slice of pineapple
Method:
- Cut a slice of pineapple into a wedge.
- Crush the ice in a blender until it breaks into small pieces.
- Place all the ingredients in the cocktail shaker, except the pineapple slice, and shake vigorously until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Strain the mixture into a 6-ounce glass or goblet, garnish with the pineapple slice and add a straw.
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