Classic Frozen Daiquiri (Lime)
The classic frozen lime daiquiri: white rum, fresh lime and simple syrup, with batch sizes for every Margaritaville machine.
Jump to recipe ↓Before strawberry took over, a daiquiri meant rum, lime and sugar. Frozen, it’s a clean, bracing slush.
This is the base for every fruit daiquiri on the site.
Classic Frozen Daiquiri recipe
Ingredients (3 drinks)
- 6 oz white rum
- 3½ oz fresh lime juice (paid link)
- 3½ oz simple syrup (paid link)
Plus: a full ice reservoir. Garnish: Lime wheel. Glass: Coupe or margarita glass.
Instructions
- Fill the ice reservoir.
- Add rum, lime and syrup to the jar.
- Run the cycle (Daiquiris program).
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
How much to make in your machine
Every Margaritaville frozen concoction maker is designed around a particular volume of liquid — the shaver portions ice for it. The table scales this recipe to the margarita liquid volume printed in each model’s manual (Key West DM1000 / DM1946 3 × 12 oz drinks: 9.75 fl oz; Bahamas DM0500 / Fiji DM2000 3 × 12 oz drinks: 13 fl oz; Tahiti DM3000 per 24 oz jar: 8.67 fl oz; Bali DM3500 half chamber: 11 fl oz; Bali DM3500 full chamber: 22 fl oz). Amounts are rounded to the nearest ¼ or ⅓ oz.
| Ingredient | Key West DM1000 / DM19463 × 12 oz drinks | Bahamas DM0500 / Fiji DM20003 × 12 oz drinks | Tahiti DM3000per 24 oz jar | Bali DM3500half chamber | Bali DM3500full chamber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| white rum | 4½ oz | 6 oz | 4 oz | 5 oz | 10¼ oz |
| fresh lime juice | 2⅔ oz | 3½ oz | 2⅓ oz | 3 oz | 6 oz |
| simple syrup | 2⅔ oz | 3½ oz | 2⅓ oz | 3 oz | 6 oz |
Scaling is our calculation, not a manufacturer recipe. Fruit- and ice-cream-heavy drinks vary more; adjust with the Shave Only / Blend Only controls. The Key West DM1900 isn’t listed because we haven’t verified its manual yet.
Machine notes for this drink
- This batch uses about 13 fl oz of liquid for 3 drinks. If your drink comes out watery, the manuals’ first fix is to follow the recipe volumes or manually shave more ice; if it’s too stiff, add liquid and Blend Only.
Why this recipe works
Equal parts lime and syrup with nearly double the rum — the classic sour proportion.
About frozen daiquiris
Daiquiris add whole fruit to the jar, which changes how the machine behaves: fruit takes up volume and thickens the drink. Watch the jar’s max line, and if chunks remain after the cycle, hold Blend Only for a few seconds. Frozen fruit gives the best texture.
Tips for the best texture
- Use fresh lime if possible.
- A good Spanish-style white rum is ideal.
- Adjust syrup to taste.
- Chill glasses.
- Never put anything but ice in the ice reservoir, and don’t fill the jar past its maximum line — both are warnings in every manual.
- Too thin? Hold the toggle in Shave Only for a few seconds, then Blend Only to mix it in. Too thick? Add an ounce of liquid and Blend Only.
Serving & make-ahead
Garnish with lime wheel and serve in a coupe or margarita glass. Daiquiris are best poured the moment the cycle ends, because fruit-heavy slushes separate as they melt. Keep spare frozen fruit for garnish, and if you are making several batches, rinse the jar between flavors so colors stay bright. A wide-mouth straw helps with thicker fruit blends.
Variations
- Hemingway: See our Hemingway Daiquiri.
- Dark rum: Use aged rum.
- Mint: Add mint leaves.
Mocktail swap
Replace rum with 4 oz limeade and 2 oz water.
Shop the ingredients
- Nellie & Joe's Key West Lime Juice (paid link)
- Monin Pure Cane Syrup (simple syrup), 750 ml (paid link)
- Libbey Cancun Margarita Set — 6 margarita glasses + 89 oz pitcher (paid link)
We link to mixers, syrups and juices only — alcohol isn’t sold through these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
Lime juice from bottle?
Works, but fresh is brighter.
How strong?
2 oz rum per drink.
Gold rum?
Fine, richer flavor.
How much ice should I put in the machine?
Fill the ice reservoir with ice cubes — the machine shaves the amount it needs for the cycle (dial models size it to the 1, 2 or 3-drink setting). The manuals recommend ice that has been out of the freezer for 10–15 minutes.
Will this work in a regular blender?
Yes — add about 1½–2 cups of ice per 12 oz drink and blend until smooth. The texture will be coarser than shaved ice.
Please drink responsibly. Alcoholic recipes are for adults of legal drinking age (21+ in the US). Never drink and drive.
