Strawberry Daiquiri Float

My neighbor brought over a bottle of white rum one sticky July afternoon, and we were both desperately craving something cold that wasn't just another iced tea. I had a pint of strawberries getting soft on the counter and a half-empty bottle of sparkling water in the fridge, so I started experimenting. What came together in those ten minutes changed how I think about summer drinks—it felt like drinking dessert without the guilt, refreshing without being austere. The first sip had my neighbor asking for the recipe before I'd even finished making it.

I served this at a small dinner party in August, and what surprised me most was watching everyone slow down their conversations once they took that first sip. Someone asked if I'd made the strawberry syrup from scratch (I hadn't), and suddenly everyone was relaxed enough to admit they'd been stress-eating all week. That's when I realized this wasn't just a drink—it was permission to pause.

Ingredients

• Fresh strawberries (1 cup, about 150g): Use the ripest ones you can find because they're the whole flavor story here; underripe berries will taste thin and forgettable.
• Granulated sugar (2 tablespoons): This isn't to make it cloying but to draw out the strawberry juice and balance the tartness of the lime.
• Freshly squeezed lime juice (1 ounce or about 1 lime): Bottled lime juice tastes tinny by comparison, and since this recipe has so few ingredients, fresh juice makes all the difference.
• White rum (2 ounces, optional): Pick something you'd actually drink straight because its flavor matters; cheap rum tastes cheap in drinks with five ingredients.
• Vanilla ice cream (2 scoops): The creaminess mellows everything and makes the float feel substantial rather than thin.
• Sparkling water (1 cup, chilled): Buy good quality—the bubbles matter, and flat or weak sparkling water deflates the whole vibe.
• Fresh mint and lime wedges for garnish: These aren't afterthoughts; mint adds a cooling note that brings everything together.

Instructions

Blend the strawberry base:

Pour the hulled strawberries, sugar, and lime juice into your blender with the rum if you're using it, then blend until completely smooth with no chunks remaining. This should take about 30 seconds, and you'll notice the mixture turning a gorgeous pale pink as the strawberries break down.

Divide between glasses:

Pour the strawberry mixture evenly into two tall glasses, filling them about a third of the way up. If you have time, stick the glasses in the freezer for a minute while you scoop the ice cream—it keeps the float colder longer.

Add the ice cream:

Drop one scoop of vanilla ice cream into each glass right on top of the strawberry mixture. The ice cream will start melting immediately, which is exactly what you want.

Pour the sparkling water slowly:

This is the moment where it becomes a float rather than just a blended drink. Pour the cold sparkling water slowly over the ice cream and strawberry base, watching it foam and bubble up gently—pour too fast and you'll lose the drama.

Garnish and serve:

Top each glass with a sprig of fresh mint, a slice of strawberry, and a lime wedge perched on the rim, then serve immediately with both a straw and a spoon. The spoon is important because you'll want to eat the melted ice cream as you drink.

Save

My best friend came over on a Saturday when everything felt complicated, and we made these together while sitting on the porch. She laughed at how simple it was, and for the first time that week, we just sat quietly, sipping and watching the neighbor's kids play in the sprinklers. Sometimes the best recipes are the ones that create space for moments like that.

Making It Your Own

The beauty of this float is how forgiving it is to improvisation. I've made it with coconut sorbet when I ran out of ice cream, and honestly it was lighter and just as good. Someone once brought lemon-lime sparkling water instead of plain, and it tasted like a candy store in the best way. The core technique stays the same—fresh fruit, cold cream, bubbles—but you can play with every single ingredient and still land somewhere delicious.

Alcohol-Free and Dairy-Free Options

Skipping the rum doesn't make this feel like a consolation drink; it just makes it taste more like pure strawberry and lime, which is its own kind of perfect. For dairy-free, coconut ice cream stays creamy without any weird aftertaste, or if you want something tangier, lemon sorbet gives the whole thing a sharper edge that's really refreshing on hot days. I've served the non-alcoholic version to families with kids, and it disappears just as fast as the version with rum.

Quick Tips for the Best Float

The temperature of everything matters more than you'd think—cold glasses, cold sparkling water, cold ice cream—because this drink warms up fast in summer heat. If you're making these for guests, chill your glasses in the freezer for five minutes before assembly. The whole operation takes ten minutes from start to finish, which means you're never more than a moment away from refreshment, and sometimes that's exactly what a day needs.

• Freeze your glasses for five minutes before assembling if you have time, because this drink warms up quickly on hot days.
• Use the ripest strawberries you can find—their flavor is the whole foundation of this drink.
• Pour the sparkling water slowly and watch the foam rise, because that's half the fun of making it.

Save

This is one of those recipes that proves you don't need complicated techniques or a long ingredient list to make something that feels special. It's the kind of drink that turns an ordinary afternoon into a moment worth savoring.

Recipe FAQ

→ Can I make this float non-alcoholic?

Yes, simply omit the rum for a refreshing, alcohol-free version without compromising flavor.

→ What can I use instead of vanilla ice cream?

You can substitute vanilla ice cream with coconut or lemon sorbet to create a dairy-free or tangier variant.

→ How do I prepare the strawberry base?

Blend fresh strawberries, sugar, lime juice, and rum (optional) until smooth for the vibrant strawberry base.

→ What type of sparkling water works best?

Plain or lemon-lime flavored sparkling water both complement the float nicely, adding bubbles and a crisp finish.

→ Can I prepare this ahead of time?

Prepare the strawberry mixture in advance, but add the ice cream and sparkling water just before serving to maintain texture.

→ Any tips for serving presentation?

Garnish with fresh mint leaves, strawberry slices, and lime wedges. Chill glasses beforehand for an extra-cool experience.