Each July, as the anniversary of Ernest Hemingway's birth arrives, establishments across Florida, from Key West to Miami Beach, often prepare mojitos as a tribute to the celebrated Nobel Prize-winning author. However, experts on Hemingway's life and work indicate that this widely held belief about his preferred cocktail is more of a popular misconception than a historical fact.
"His connection to the mojito is probably more myth than reality," explains Mark Ott, a respected Hemingway scholar who has edited the "Teaching Hemingway" book series and contributed as a consulting editor for Ken Burns' and Lynn Novick's "Hemingway" documentary. Ott notes a distinct lack of evidence documenting Hemingway's consumption of mojitos.
Debunking the Mojito Legend
The origin of this enduring myth is frequently attributed to La Bodeguita del Medio, a renowned bar in Havana, Cuba. A handwritten inscription displayed there, purportedly by Hemingway, declares, "My mojito in La Bodeguita, my daiquiri in El Floridita."
Yet, the authenticity of this signature has been questioned by historians for a considerable time. Doubts also persist regarding whether the establishment operated in its current form during much of Hemingway's residency in Cuba, a period when he penned "The Old Man and the Sea," which earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953.
Despite these historical ambiguities, the inscription has cemented its place as a significant element of both tourist appeal and cocktail lore.
The Undeniable Daiquiri Connection
In stark contrast to the mojito, Hemingway's clear fondness for daiquiris is thoroughly substantiated. According to Ott, the author was a frequent patron of El Floridita in Havana. It was there that bartenders perfected what became known as the Papa Doble, a unique variation of the daiquiri featuring an increased amount of rum and no added sugar.
Frank Gonzalez, the corporate beverage director for Havana 1957, a restaurant group in South Florida celebrated for its Cuban cocktails, concurs with this assessment. "The daiquiri is Hemingway," he states.
Gonzalez suggests that while Hemingway likely sampled both mojitos and daiquiris during his years residing in Cuba, his drinking preferences may have evolved over time.
Other Preferred Beverages
Numerous reports over the years have consistently shown that while Hemingway almost certainly visited La Bodeguita del Medio, the concrete evidence linking him to regular mojito consumption remains sparse. Contemporary accounts, personal letters, and biographical works much more frequently depict him with a daiquiri, a beer, wine, or scotch in hand, rather than Cuba's classic mint and lime concoction.
For scholar Mark Ott, the historical record provides clear answers. One beverage Hemingway genuinely enjoyed, Ott points out, was scotch.
"He certainly liked his scotch," Ott affirms. "There's no question about that."
Nonetheless, the historical debate surrounding Hemingway's preferences does not diminish the mojito's standing, according to Gonzalez. He describes the traditional blend of white rum, fresh lime juice, mint, sugar, and soda water as one of Cuba's most enduring cocktails, emphasizing that its quality relies on fresh ingredients and a gentle muddling technique.
Ernest Hemingway was born on July 21, 1899, and passed away on July 2, 1961, at the age of 61.
