HAVANA – Who says 9 a.m. is too early for a drink? Especially one that its makers believe will set a world record.

Cuban mixologists whipped up a giant daiquiri Saturday morning in the Old Havana tavern where the tropical cocktail was born and where regular barfly Ernest Hemingway made it popular.

“Ready!” cried TV news anchor Froylan Arencibia, on hand to narrate the festivities, as smartly dressed bartenders in red ties and jackets fired up a dozen blenders. “We’re making history!”

For a half-hour, two waiters stood atop a wooden platform pouring pitcher after pitcher of the slushy rum, lemon and sugar concoctions into a 6.5-foot-tall fiber-composite cocktail glass.

Organizers said that at around 71 gallons, they believe they have set a world record. A jury on hand to judge the attempt included a Cuban man who holds the record for rolling the world’s longest cigar, and he said organizers have been in touch with Guinness World Records about recognizing the monster daiquiri.

“This is a great spectacle, very interesting, and I think an activity that give us a little more prestige because I believe it will be recognized by Guinness,” Jose Castelan Cairo said.

The event was staged to honor the 195th anniversary of the bar El Floridita, which means “Little Florida” in Spanish and bills itself as the “cradle of the daiquiri.” The giant cocktail also honored the 113 years since the birth of its most famous frequent customer.

Legend has it that “Papa,” who took his daiquiris without sugar, once downed 13 doubles in one sitting. El Floridita is a favorite among tourists tracing Hemingway’s footsteps in Cuba, and bartenders always set out a daiquiri next to a statue of the Nobel Prize-winning novelist.

“The first one is for Hemingway!” organizer Somalia Perez yelled as waiters filled glasses for jury members to try. The crowd sang Cuba’s version of “Happy Birthday” to the writer often referred to as “Ernesto.”

Motivated to walk on hot coals, 21 burned

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Fire officials said 21 people at an event hosted by motivational speaker Tony Robbins suffered burns while walking across hot coals, and three of the injured were treated at hospitals.

The injuries took place during the first day Thursday of a four-day event at the San Jose Convention Center hosted by Robbins called “Unleash the Power Within.” Most of those hurt had second- and third-degree burns, said San Jose Fire Department Capt. Reggie Williams.

Walking across hot coals heated to between 1,200 to 2,000 degrees provides attendees an opportunity to “understand that there is absolutely nothing you can’t overcome,” according to the motivational speaker’s website.

Robbins Research International said in a written statement that 6,000 attendees of the event walked across the coals Thursday.

Courses can resolve actor’s lewd-conduct arrest

LOS ANGELES – Fred Willard will be allowed to enroll in counseling courses to resolve a lewd-conduct arrest that cost the actor a television job.

The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office determined Friday that Willard’s case was eligible for a diversion program that will keep him from being formally charged if he completes the courses, spokesman Frank Mateljan said.

Willard, best-known as the announcer in the film “Best in Show,” was arrested Wednesday night at a Hollywood adult theater.

Hours later he was fired as the narrator of “Market Warriors.”