Few drinks are so well known as the Rum and Coke. Made with two ingredients, this drink is known by practically every bartender and cocktail enjoyer on the planet. Just by naming it, you can make it. But would you believe that the origins of this cocktail go back to the early 1900’s in Cuba? Enter the Cuba Libre.
Meaning “Free Cuba”, this drink originated in Cuba sometime around the late 1890s (but not coinciding with the entrance of bottled Coke entering Cuba). Instead, the original had a mixture of water and brown sugar. Legend has it that some time after 1900, an individual ordered a Bacardi and Coke, intriguing some local American soldiers, and the drink took off. Like all origin stories, this owes itself to an affidavit some 60 years later, so take it with a grain of salt, but enjoy the drink – which includes lime juice in many versions (unlike a standard Rum and Coke).
Cuba Libre
The Cuba Libre is a classic combination of smooth rum and sweet cola. The slight note of lime gives a nice brightness here that opens up the flavor of the cola and the tropical notes of the rum. The rum’s subtle vanilla plays well against the cola’s caramel notes. Overall, they’re super easy to make and drink, and an obvious classic for this very reason.
Drink Notes & Recommendations
The most obvious difference in recipes for a Cuba Libre (or a Rum and Coke) is the addition of the lime juice. The lime juice adds the pop of brightness here that some people like, and some hate. If you find you don’t like it (we admittedly like a little, but not a lot), feel free to omit it.
- Rum – Almost all recipes will recommend you use a lightly aged or ‘white’ rum here. While these make the simplest Cuba Libres, there’s no reason you can’t choose your favorite rum or what you have on hand. In our example, we used El Dorado 3, but we’ve made them with Appleton Reserve, Plantation Original Dark, Doorly’s X.O., and others.
- Cola – We recommend using fresh Coke for this. While we have a slight preference for Mexican Coke, there’s not a need to have it. Be aware, we emphasize fresh, because nothing will make a Cuba Libre more disappointing that old, flat, dull, Coke. You can also use other cola, if you don’t like Coke.
- Lime – For best results, use fresh squeezed.