My DAIQUIRI Brand: PART 1 — My Southern Brand

Similar to margaritas, daiquiris (historically comprised of lime juice, ice, rum, and sugar) have been around since the 19th century. With an origin in Cuba, the popular alcoholic drink had become extremely popular in Louisiana in the early 1980s. The state had taken its own twist to the frozen slushy: ice, artificially fruit-flavored syrups, and cheap liquor. Due to its strong cultural ties with and proximity to Louisiana and New Orleans, Houston started to see a surge of daiquiri shops in the 2000s, and they are opening more and more currently; you know I had to participate in the surge. As a result, I’m taking you on journeys to these businesses and compiling my favorite drinks from each into a series of single posts dubbed My DAIQUIRI Brand. Get ready to pull out your I.D.s! Let me take you on a journey to these D-Shops…

Daiquiris 2 Go

The Southwest side of town is a popular destination for “daiquiri heads” like me. Daiquiris 2 Go is special to me because the owner is from the great state of Alabama. Juanita Jackson, an attorney on the former Houston-based reality show (Sisters in Law), and her kids, who help manage the shop, are very welcoming and have GREAT customer service. The space is really clean and bright, and it’s a place where friends can get together, while drinking, to play games like Spades, Uno, Dominoes, etc.; they, also, serve Cajun-style food on certain occasions. Chris, one of the owner’s kids, and Raven, an alumnus of Alabama A&M University, are my favorite mixers and always take great care of me.

Now, let’s move on to my daiquiri of choice. My favorite drink to get from here is the “Mary J,” which includes green apple and piña colada. The daiquiri is sour from the green apple but is creamy from the piña colada. I normally get the regular size, which is $5; if I’m feeling a little adventurous, then I’ll get an extra shot of a neutral-based rum, which is the base for all of the daiquiris, for $1. The daiquiri, which is composed of real fruit juice, is strong but not overwhelming. However, it will have you feeling great!

Daiquiris 2 Go, my go-to D-Shop, gets 5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) from me! If I could give it a solid 10, then I would!

Bourbon St. Daiquiris

Now, if you want that authentic New Orleans flavor and scene, then look no further than Bourbon St. Daiquiris. This D-Shop’s original and most popular location is on Westheimer Road, close to the Energy Corridor; it has a new location in Richmond and has upcoming locations along the Highway 6 corridor near the Addicks Reservoir, in Pearland, and on the Northside along FM 1960. At either open location, one can enjoy social shakedowns, live DJs playing bounce music, second lines, comedy shows, and other events on any given day of the weekend. ShoNotChos, a Louisiana-based nachos vendor, has a food truck at the Westheimer location on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for tasty snacks. Also, Bourbon St. Daiquiris sells Louisiana and Houston favorites like crawfish (seasonal), poboys, fried shrimp, etc. to help soak up your alcoholic consumption; hookah is available, as well.

Here’s the part for which you’ve been waiting: the daiquiri. “The Booty Call” always has me coming back for more! Its flavors include peach, strawberry, and piña colada, but I created my own twist to the drink. One day, they were out of the peach flavor, so I had to opt for pineapple, instead; ever since then, I’ve been substituting peach for pineapple. The flavors together are impeccable! The strawberry syrup has strawberry bits in it and is pretty sweet; the piña colada and pineapple flavors are sharp and sour. I normally get the regular size (16 oz) for $6 because any drink from here will have you feeling tipsy quickly.

I give Bourbon St. Daiquiris 5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)! I’m thrilled about the new Pearland location because it will be really close to me!

Wing Quarter Daiquiris & Creole Kitchen

Now, y’all know Wing Quarter is one of my favorite spots for food, especially the boudin balls and fried shrimp; I come here at least once a week when I’m feeling greedy. LOL. I patronize this restaurant so much to the point that the employees know me well. Located in Third Ward, Wing Quarter is very Louisiana and Houston with Zydeco and blues blasting, Mardi Gras themes and colors, strong daiquiris, and excellent Gulf Coast and Creole foods.

When I’ve had a long week at work, I have to get a daiquiri. Wing Quarter's daiquiris are out of this world. They have 3 flavors: Crazy Cajun Colada, Gator Rita, and New Orleans Hurricane. They, also, have other alcoholic juices that can be added to daiquiris, such as Long Island Ice Tea. I always get a regular sized Cajun Colada and New Orleans Hurricane mixture, which leaves me feeling kinda LIT. LOL. Sometimes, I may get a mixture of all three flavors because I like being extra when it comes to customizing. There’s only one size (regular), which is $7; it’s worth every cent.

Y’all already know how I feel about Wing Quarter. I have to give my favorite place 5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) because it never lets me down.

Daiquiri Explosion

Daiquiri Explosion is the correct name for this venue because the daiquiris are really good. Located off South Main Street near NRG Stadium, the D-Shop is among several black-owned businesses like Hank’s Ice Cream Parlor and Mama’s Oven. This is definitely a destination you want to visit before going out on the town or to chill with friends during the weekdays. It has a pretty laid-back vibe, where you can enjoy dancing to a live DJ, watching a big game, and playing games like Connect Four, Uno, Dominoes, Spades, etc.

Next, let me share about my favorite daiquiri. At first, the “Baby Maker” (Long Island Tea, mango, pineapple, kiwi, strawberry, and Peach Bellini) was my go-to drink, but Ms. Angie put me onto another drink: the “Cowboy Swag.” Oh yea, you ain’t never had no swag, until you’ve had the “Cowboy Swag.” The daiquiri includes a great mixture of blue raspberry, lemonade, and Long Island Tea. I’m a huge fan of “blue” flavors, and I drink anything with lemonade in it; the Long Island Tea adds the right amount of alcohol to the drink. After I had it for the first time, I knew that I had to put the “Baby Maker” to rest. The medium size ($6.75) is just enough for me.

When I leave the club early, Daiquiri Explosion satisfies my craving, since it’s opened a little later than the other D-Shops on my way home. However, since Ms. Angie, the best mixer, is hardly ever working when I come to patronize, I give Daiquiri Explosion 4 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️).

Prime Daiquiri & Dine

Located literally one exit down from Daiquiris 2 Go on the Southwest side along the Southwest Freeway, Prime Daiquiri is owned by Nigerians who are graduates of Texas Southern University. This spot was recently advertised on “The Shaderoom” and got a lot of positive reviews on its daiquiris. The venue itself is extremely small but is accommodated by an over-sized patio that hosts a live DJ that plays bounce music, rap, R&B, and Nigerian music during the weekends. Prime Daiquiri, also, serves Cajun-style food, Sunday Brunch, Tex Mex, Seafood, Wings, and Burgers; crawfish, when in season, is served, as well. As you can tell, the business can be very busy, especially since the Instagram shout out.

Of course, you know I had to come here to taste the daiquiris. Prime Daiquiri did not disappoint the multiple times I’d patronized. During my first visit, the employees recommended that I try the “XXX” (green apple and octane) and the “J Mulan” (strawberry and mango) mixed. Oh boy, they were on to something with this recommendation; the drink is kind of sweet, but it packs a strong punch that is hidden within the perfectly blended flavors. Every time I’ve come, the respective mixture has been my #1 choice. I get the regular size (20 oz) for $9.24, and I’m completely satisfied and in my own world.

Due to the facts that Prime Daiquiri has expensive daiquiris and gets really busy during nights on the weekends, I give it 4 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️). The business is fairly new, so I have faith that it will continue to improve its logistics!

As you can tell, I love daiquiris. I was compelled to create My DAIQUIRI Brand, and I will continue to share with y’all my favorite daiquiris from across the Greater Houston area. If you have any recommendations, then please comment below! In the meantime, stay tuned for Part 2 and DRINK RESPONSIBLY!