Frozen Cocktails Can Be Traced All The Way Back To Prohibition

Other histories of frozen cocktails

The frozen daiquiri is not the only precursor to the wide variety of perfectly blended frozen cocktails we enjoy today. In fact, it's thought that frozen beverages date back to ancient Mesopotamia. However, it wasn't until the advent of modern electric refrigeration in the early 20th century that ice became more accessible in the beverage industry. Prior to that, ice had to be "harvested" and stored in naturally cool ice houses to ensure it melted slowly, allowing for its use during the summer months when cold drinks were in high demand. Additionally, transporting ice was challenging, making it scarce in regions like the South that didn't experience winter freezes.

As a result, frozen drinks didn't gain popularity until the 1900s, when ice became more widely available. The invention of the blender in 1922 (which didn't gain significant popularity until the 1930s) made crushing ice a straightforward task. Other frozen beverages emerged independently of the daiquiri; for instance, the frozen margarita is believed to have originated in Texas in the late 1930s, inspired by the newly perfected margarita recipe. However, it didn't truly take off until the 1970s, when automated machines made it easy to dispense with a simple lever. In summary, regardless of your favorite frozen drink, you likely owe a debt of gratitude to some innovative appliance inventors.