With every sip of the Cuba Libre, history comes alive in a simple concoction comprised of rum, cola and lime juice.
Last year, my girlfriend indulged me for my birthday and accompanied me to a James Bond event held here in Burbank, California. For the record, she hates James Bond. But the chance to have cocktails and canapés with a handful of beautiful and legendary Bond Women was even too good for her to pass up.
As we arrived we were welcomed to the intimate gathering with some glasses of very inviting-looking Palomas. My girlfriend is allergic to everything that exists (including me) and declared that she can’t drink Palomas, so she sent me to the bar to procure her a Cuba Libre.
Being dutiful, I went and ordered her drink of choice by name. The barkeep looked at me as if I had fallen out of the sky. “Just say you want a Rum and Coke”, he replied. I walked away confused and with a cocktail my girlfriend didn’t ask for. I learned that night that a Cuba Libre is not a Rum and Coke, and vice versa. They’re close, but with a difference. The barkeep should’ve known that.
A Rum and Coke is just that, rum and Coca-Cola. A Cuba Libre is also a Rum and Coke, but with an added splash of lime juice. Doesn’t sound like much to make it something different, but have one of each and you’ll taste for yourself.
The name of this cocktail is directly translated into English as “free Cuba”. The drink’s origins supposedly surround a U.S. Army captain stationed in Havana around the time of the Spanish-American War. He would mix his Coca-Cola with Bacardí and lime juice while toasting “Por Cuba Libre!” to his local compatriots.
What is the best rum to use in a cuba libre?
Our recipe calls for a light, or white/silver, rum to mix your Cuba Libre with. Its clear color and lighter taste and texture will mix and blend seamlessly with the cola and lime juice. If you want a more complex and robust tipple, go for a bottle of spiced or dark rum. And in place of a regular can or bottle of Coke, seek out a distiller’s cola from certain mixer brands that are specially crafted for alcoholic drinks.
Ingredients
- Juice of 1/2 a lime
- 2 ounces rum
- Cola to top
- Lime wedge to garnish
Instructions
- Pour the lime juice into a highball glass filled with ice. Add the rum.
- Fill the rest of the glass with cola.
- Stir lightly to combine all ingredients, and chill the cocktail. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve.
Nutrition
What glassware and garnish to use?
A highball glass is traditional, and its slender shape will keep the ice colder longer. Garnish with a lime wheel or wedge for an extra spritz of citrus.
Similar Cocktails to the Cuba Libre
Simple and bubbly two or three ingredient cocktails have gotten your attention. These easy-to-make and drink recipes take no time to whip up, and they leave a tasty impression. The Cuba Libre has gotten you thinking about other carbonated drams, so check some of them out right here at Twist & Toast.
- Rum and Coke – Close to the Cuba Libre, but with its own flavor and vibe.
- Gin and Tonic – Another classic two-ingredient beverage that will never go out of style.
- Whiskey Highball – Simplicity at its finest, whiskey and club soda.
- Whiskey Ginger – An easy and no-frills tipple that’ll satisfy your thirst.
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