The much loved -- and scorned -- frozen daiquiri.
Moving in and out of fashion since the 1930s, blender cocktails are often candy-sweet and come in garish colors -- and that's part of their appeal. Often associated with chain restaurants, most frozen cocktails are based on more traditional Latin drinks. For get-togethers, blended cocktails are a simple way to make drinks for a small group, and they require no special skill to make. Does this Spark an idea?
Frozen Daiquiris
Frozen daiquiris were among the first blender drinks; popular in Havana, Cuba, in the 1930s, they were once made with hand-shaved ice. Over the years, they have evolved from cocktails mixed with ice in a blender to thick slushed ice drinks. A classic frozen daiquiri is made with rum, lime juice and sugar syrup. Ingredients are blended with ice to chill, and strained into a glass. For a slushy style, blend until it's smooth. Add fresh strawberries for a strawberry frozen daiquiri.
Piña Coladas
The true origin of the piña colada is up for debate, but the one thing we do know is that it originated in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where it became a huge hit with tourists in the 1950s. The frozen cocktail blends the tropical flavors of pineapple, coconut and rum with crushed ice. To make a batch of your own, blend ice with equal parts pineapple juice, coconut cream -- not coconut milk -- and rum. You can adjust the rum to suit your taste. Some like to throw in some vanilla ice cream to make it extra creamy, though not traditional.
Frozen Margaritas
The margarita is a Mexican cocktail that gained attention in the 1940s, when Jose Cuervo tequila used the drink in its U.S. advertising. A classic margarita is a play on a tequila shot preceded by a lick of salt and followed by a lime wedge -- accouterments that cut the harshness of the liquor. Traditionally, a margarita is served over ice, not blended with ice. Frozen, slushy margaritas in a wide array of flavors and colors are staples at most Mexican restaurants in the U.S., but you can make your own by mixing equal parts tequila and lime juice with half as much sugar syrup and ice. Leave the ice crushed, not slushy, for a more traditional margarita.
Creamy Cocktails
Creamy cocktails are basically grown-up milkshakes. Frequently, these desserty drinks are made with Irish cream, coffee liqueur or chocolate liqueur, plus ice cream. Sometimes multiple liqueurs are mixed, and sometimes vodka or rum is added for an extra kick. Creamy frozen cocktails include the mudslide, the frozen white Russian and the Mississippi mud. To make a mudslide, combine equal parts vodka, coffee liqueur, Irish cream with chocolate or vanilla ice cream.
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