Hemingway Special
The Hemingway Special is an IBA Contemporary Classic: 4 ingredients, shaken and served in a coupe. That makes 165 ml in the glass: a middling measure.
MethodShaken
GlassCoupe
In the glass165 ml
Strength17.4%
Ingredients
- 60 mlwhite rum
- 40 mlgrapefruit juice
- 15 mlmaraschino
- 15 mlfresh lime juice
Method
- Pour all ingredients into a shaker with ice.
- Shake well and strain into a large cocktail glass.
What it tastes like
- bitter → sweet
- It leans dry: 0.8 out of 10 of bitterness, 67th of 186.
- round → sour
- Citrus shows, but this is no sour: 32nd of 186, and it comes from grapefruit juice.
- light → strong
- 17.4% after dilution: the middle band, 65th of 186.
Among the five around it on the map it is the only one built on rum.
Five that come close
- New York SourSweeter and built on whisky.
- Naked and FamousMore bitter and with more bitterness in it.
- CosmopolitanSweeter and built on vodka.
- Bee’s KneesSweeter and built on gin.
- South SideSweeter and built on gin.
Every drink near the Hemingway Special on the map
Recipe source: IBA · checked on 30 October 2026