cuba_libre_cocktail

Cuba Libre Recipe

[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

You might think of the Cuba Libre as a simple rum and Coke, but there's more to it than just that.

The Cuba Libre originated, naturally, in Cuba, during a free-Cuba movement that sprung up just after the Spanish-American War. The Cuba Libre originally called for the juice of one lime in addition to the rum and the Coke, and the lime juice makes all the difference.

If you're only familiar with Rum and Coke as a sticky-sweet party drink, the lime-infused version may surprise you. The lime marries well with the rum, of course, but it also delightfully complements the flavors of Coke, and it provides just enough tartness to cut through the sweetness of the drink. Use a darker rum—a gold or an anejo—to further tamp down Coke's sweetness.

I like to drop the shell of half a lime into the serving glass and muddle the citrus oils from the skin into the cocktail. The oils add more tartness and a bit of extra complexity to the cocktail. You can certainly skip this step.

• Yield: makes 1 drink
• Active time: 5 minutes
• Total time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 lime
• 2 ounces dark or anejo rum
• Coca-Cola, or other cola

Directions

Squeeze a lime into a Collins or highball glass.

Drop half the spent lime shell into the glass and muddle the oils into the lime juice.

Add ice and rum. Top with cola and stir briefly.

Michael Dietsch is a barfly, booze hound, book hoarder, jazz fiend, and technographer. He lives with his wife, kids, and cats in the D.C. suburbs. When he's not out on the town, he's usually at home doing laundry and writing.

He'll save your life if you ask nicely enough.

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How To Make a Cuba Libre (That Is, Rum and Coke)

In the simplified form of rum and Coca-Cola, this was one of the chief fuels that kept the home fires burning back during the Big One. It helped that there was practically nothing else to drink.

This patient responds exceptionally well to Baker's Procedure, something cooked up by Charles H. Baker in his 1939 Gentleman's Companion. It requires you to muddle the squeezed-out lime shell in the bottom of the glass before adding the rest of the ingredients, in order to extract a little of the rind's bitter oil. Actually, though, this should be called Kappeler's Procedure, since it was George Kappeler who, in his 1895 Modern American Drinks, suggested it be employed to treat one Thomas Collins, then suffering from a slight case of the blahs.

Cuba Libre (Rum and Coke)

The Wondrich Take:

In the simplified form of rum and Coca-Cola, this was one of the chief fuels that kept the home fires burning back during the Big One. It helped that there was practically nothing else to drink. By 1944, all American distillers of any size had for a couple of years been forking 100 percent of their production over to Uncle Sam, and domestic stocks were low, low, low. Caribbean rum was about the only import plentiful enough to make up for that (things got so bad they were even making gin out of sugarcane, not to mention vodka). The mixer situation wasn't much better. Sugar was rationed, which cut into the market-share of the daiquiri and Collins and such, and ginger ale was scarce. Not Coca-Cola, though. It's good to be the king.

All the Andrews Sisters bobbysoxer jive aside (don't make us repeat it), the Cuba Libre was already enjoying a comfortable middle age. This wasn't its first war, or even its second. The drink was invented, it turns out, by a doughboy (or whatever they were calling 'em) in Cuba, during the aftermath of the Spanish-American War. That was in 1900. "Cuba Libre!" was the rallying cry of the Cuban independence movement, a cause that was quite popular on this side of the Florida Straits. Sorta the "Free Tibet" of its day, only back then we felt obligated to back up our feel-good sloganeering with battleships and infantry divisions.

[pullquote align='C']"Cuba Libre!" was the rallying cry of the Cuban independence movement.[/pullquote]

Of course, having gotten out from under Spain, it took Cuba another 60-odd years to get libre from the Yanquis. At which point, miffed, we slapped on an embargo that rendered it illegal to consume an authentic Cuba Libre in either of the countries that produce its two essential components. But in absolute point of fact, nobody has been able to drink a Cuba Libre in its full, original glory since about 1901, when the suits at Coca-Cola started getting nervous about their product's crank factor and began exploring ways to phase out its not-inconsiderable cocaine content. Hobbyists/drink archaeologists take note: We really can't endorse any attempts to create a historically correct Cuba Libre. Wish we could, but there you have it. But even without that key alkaloid, the drink is a potent little speedball that's way tastier than it has any right to be. Don't leave out the lime, though.

1. Squeeze a lime into a Collins glass, add 2 or 3 ice cubes.
2. Pour in the rum (we like the golden type and really like a darker, more flavorful riserva).
3. Drop in one of the spent lime shells and fill with cold Coca-Cola.
4. Stir briefly.

The Wondrich Take:

In the simplified form of rum and Coca-Cola, this was one of the chief fuels that kept the home fires burning back during the Big One. It helped that there was practically nothing else to drink. By 1944, all American distillers of any size had for a couple of years been forking 100 percent of their production over to Uncle Sam, and domestic stocks were low, low, low. Caribbean rum was about the only import plentiful enough to make up for that (things got so bad they were even making gin out of sugarcane, not to mention vodka). The mixer situation wasn't much better. Sugar was rationed, which cut into the market-share of the daiquiri and Collins and such, and ginger ale was scarce. Not Coca-Cola, though. It's good to be the king.

All the Andrews Sisters bobbysoxer jive aside (don't make us repeat it), the Cuba Libre was already enjoying a comfortable middle age. This wasn't its first war, or even its second. The drink was invented, it turns out, by a doughboy (or whatever they were calling 'em) in Cuba, during the aftermath of the Spanish-American War. That was in 1900. "Cuba Libre!" was the rallying cry of the Cuban independence movement, a cause that was quite popular on this side of the Florida Straits. Sorta the "Free Tibet" of its day, only back then we felt obligated to back up our feel-good sloganeering with battleships and infantry divisions.

[pullquote align="C"]"Cuba Libre!" was the rallying cry of the Cuban independence movement.[/pullquote]

Of course, having gotten out from under Spain, it took Cuba another 60-odd years to get libre from the Yanquis. At which point, miffed, we slapped on an embargo that rendered it illegal to consume an authentic Cuba Libre in either of the countries that produce its two essential components. But in absolute point of fact, nobody has been able to drink a Cuba Libre in its full, original glory since about 1901, when the suits at Coca-Cola started getting nervous about their product's crank factor and began exploring ways to phase out its not-inconsiderable cocaine content. Hobbyists/drink archaeologists take note: We really can't endorse any attempts to create a historically correct Cuba Libre. Wish we could, but there you have it. But even without that key alkaloid, the drink is a potent little speedball that's way tastier than it has any right to be. Don't leave out the lime, though.

Cuba Libre Recipe

• 3 mins
• Prep: 3 mins,
• Cook: 0 mins
• Yield: 1 serving

Cuba Libre translated means “Free Cuba” and was popularized around the end of the Spanish-American War.

This simple mixed drink is similar to a Rum & Coke, but the addition of fresh lime juice lightens up the drink and defines the Cuba Libre as a separate drink. It's an easy drink to remember and popular enough that it would be good to add it to the drinks to know list.

Cuba Libre

Cocktail recipe

• #11 / 153 in White Rum Cocktails
• |
• see all.
• #27 / 287 in Lime Juice Cocktails
• |
• #4 / 130 in Coke Cocktails

3 Ingredients

• 1.25 cl Lime Juice 1.25 cl Lime Juice 1.25 cl Lime Juice 12.5 ml Lime Juice 1.25 cl Lime Juice 0.42 oz Lime Juice
• Top up Coke Top up Coke Top up Coke Top up Coke Top up Coke Top up Coke
• 5 cl White Rum 5 cl White Rum 5 cl White Rum 50 ml White Rum 5 cl White Rum 1.67 oz White Rum

• Original
• cl
• ml
• oz

Microbadges (Expand)

A cocktail recognised by the International Bartenders' Association

" > IBA Official Drink In A List

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Received 10 or more positive votes on the site

Featured in 10 or more lists on this site

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" > Photo Diffords 14 Key Ingredients

Can be made with Simon Difford's 14 key ingredients list

" > Diffords 14 Key Ingredients Cocktail Of The Day

Has been featured as cocktail of the day on this site

" > Cocktail Of The Day Classic

Is categorised as a 'classic' cocktail on this site

Featured in Diffordsguide Top 100 Cocktails

" > Difford Top 100 100 Cocktails To Try Before You Die

100 Cocktails To Try Before You Die (list 1) by Bobby Heugel and Justin Burrows from the Anvil Bar & Refuge in Houston

" > 100 Cocktails To Try Before You Die 100 Cocktails To Try Before You Die (Part 2)

100 Cocktails To Try Before You Die (list 2) by Bobby Heugel and Justin Burrows from the Anvil Bar & Refuge in Houston

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Elsewhere on the net

Por Cuba Libre! Don't be mistaken - the Cuba Libre is not just a 'rum and coke'. In celebration of Cuban Independence Day Simone Caporale shows you the . ">Cuba Libre Cocktail | Simone Caporale https://www.youtube.com/embed/GwQwt_5FhPo

Please watch: "The 10 Hottest Sex Positions Ranked By YOU" ➨ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkRFntsbb8k -

- Cuba Libre translated means . ">How To: Make The Cuba Libre https://www.youtube.com/embed/aYeDFsBBgog

With a high-quality rum, a twist of fresh lime and a sturdy highball glass, follow this recipe to make a proper Cuba Libre. Custom has it that a Cuba Libre may be . ">Cuba Libre Cocktail Recipe - How to Make a Cuba Libre

[ajax call='elsewhere_on_the_net' args='typee:web,cid:6796,title:Cuba Libre']

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  Cuba libre

  

  

  • Verser citron et rhum sur des glaГ§ons. ComplГ©ter avec le coca cola. Remuer lentement.

  • Servir dans un verre de type "tumbler".

  • Décor: DГ©corer avec une tranche de citron vert

  • TrГЁs en vogue. Simple et prestigieux.

  Histoire "Cuba libre"

  Le Cuba Libre est nГ© juste aprГЁs la guerre entre les Etats-Unis et l'Espagne lors de la 2e Guerre dВ’IndГ©pendance (1895 Г 1898). Deux ans aprГЁs la guerre, en 1900, un Capitaine et sa troupe de soldats amГ©ricains se retrouvent dans un bar du Vieux Quartier de La Havane. Le capitaine avait commandГ© du rhum et du Coca-Cola (qui venait d'ГЄtre importГ© Г cuba) sur glace, avec un quartier de citron vert. Cela Г©veilla la curiositГ© des soldats qui l'entouraient. Ils demandГЁrent au barman de leur servir ce mГЄme cocktail.

  Variantes "Cuba libre"

  

  Recette mise au point en 1962. PubliГ©e la.

  ►cola (coca cola, pepsi) ►tequila ►citrons verts

  

  La Cuba Libre sans alcool ! Remplir le.

  ►sirop caribbean (saveur rhum) ►jus de citrons verts ►cola (coca cola, pepsi)

  Cuba Libre recipe

  Scan me to take me with you

  

  

  posted by Jesse CoX (St. John's, NFLD) @ 10:15PM, 6/10/06

  posted by Cheers @ 02:25PM, 6/16/06

  posted by BANned @ 02:51PM, 7/08/06

  posted by PeDrO PM @ 08:07PM, 7/15/06

  posted by Sleepyhead @ 12:13PM, 7/30/06

  posted by Randym9 @ 04:22PM, 8/20/06

  posted by Raul @ 11:22AM, 4/04/07

  posted by J.M. @ 12:44AM, 5/03/07

  posted by Amy @ 04:48PM, 6/02/07

  posted by tizzle @ 03:18PM, 6/05/07

  posted by madonna @ 04:42PM, 6/25/07

  posted by mabruce @ 07:19AM, 7/13/07

  posted by Marichu @ 08:41PM, 8/14/07

  posted by some guy. @ 09:11AM, 9/21/07

  posted by Dan @ 10:08PM, 10/23/07

  posted by Julie @ 12:28AM, 12/15/07

  posted by mactobbe @ 03:02PM, 12/30/07

  posted by Simon Bolivar @ 09:57AM, 1/13/08

  For information on creating mixed drink recipes, bartending information, and measurements for alcoholic drinks, visit our Bartender Guide.

  DrinksMixer.com, A property of SheKnows.com, LLC. © 2017 SheKnows.com, LLC. All rights reserved.

  and the following drinks, with similar ingredients.

  Cuba libre cocktail

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15 TASTES OF CUBA: YOUR PASSPORT TO THE FORBIDDEN ISLAND!

everY fridaY & saturdaY night 11pm–2am

CUBAN CHIPS AND DIPS:

PINEAPPLE GUACAMOLE CUBANO 7 / 11

Avocado, grilled golden pineapple, roasted jalapeños, fresh lime juice, extra virgin olive oil. Crispy plantain chips

TROPICAL CHIPS AND TRIO OF DIPS 9.25

Plantain and malanga chips

Black bean hummus, roasted cauliflower hummus with curried onions, and Cuba Libre salsa

Blue crabmeat, avocado, grilled golden pineapple, roasted jalapeños, fresh lime juice, extra virgin olive oil. Crisp plantain chips

MAMÁ AMELIA’S EMPANADAS 11.5 or 15.5

Choose two or three

Served with aji-sour cream dipping sauce

- Del Campo: Pulled pork, roasted poblano,

- Picadillo: Cienfuegos-style ground beef, potatoes,

Manzanilla olives, raisins

- De la Casa: Hand-chopped chicken, corn,

GUAVA BBQ RIBS 13.75 / 26

Slow-cooked St. Louis cut pork ribs, guava BBQ sauce glaze.

Pickled pineapple, sliced pickles

CEVICHE DE PESCADO 14

Hamachi-Yellowtail, organic grape tomato salad,

leche de tigre and Thai basil vinaigrette

SHRIMP CÓCTEL 14

Cuban-style shrimp cocktail.

Latino cóctel sauce and avocado

Fresh corn masa filled with chicken,

bell peppers and cachucha chiles.

Roasted corn sauce

SOPA Y ENSALADA

BLACK BEAN SOUP 6.75

Traditional Cuban black bean soup with rich authentic flavors

Watercress, baby spinach, romaine,

grape tomato, Kalamata olives, red onions.

Red wine vinaigrette and boniato chips

LEVANTA MUERTO SEAFOOD SOUP 13.5

Seafood soup to “raise the dead,” with shrimp, bay scallops,

crabmeat and mussels. Coconut milk fortified “Chino-Cubano” broth. Truffle oil

Small tasting plates

Combination of any two, three or four 16.5, 24, 31

Beef, pork, pine nut and raisin meatballs.

Creole tomato sauce and grilled Cuban bread

Abuela’s creamy roasted chicken croquettes.

Roasted cachucha pepper allioli.

Spanish-style blistered Padrón peppers,

flaky salt and lemon mahonesa sauce

OCTOPUS A LA PARRILLA

Truffle and citrus marinated grilled baby octopus.

Smoked potato crema, crispy garbanzo beans

and Spanish paprika

A traditional Cuban street food of crispy taro, garlic and

West Indian culantro. Tamarindo ketchup

SPINACH AND MANCHEGO BUÑUELOS

Manchego cheese and spinach puffs. Goat cheese-ranch sauce and organic olive oil

COCONUT CRAB FRITTERS

Jumbo lump crabmeat, fresh grated coconut, peppers, fresh herbs. Sweet chili dipping sauce

Tender braised and crisped-shredded flank steak, roasted onions and citrus-garlic sauce. White rice and Cuban black beans.

ARROZ CON POLLO 21.75

Saffron long grain rice, boneless chicken, green peas, Manzanilla olives, hard-boiled egg. Asparagus, Palacios chorizo, roasted piquillo pepper salad

ROPA VIEJA 23.75

Shredded beef brisket stewed with tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, red wine. Maduros and steamed white rice

CITRUS CHICKEN 21

Pan roasted marinated semi-boneless double chicken breast. Yuca mash and grilled broccolini. Mango passion fruit sweet and sour sauce.

VISIT TO HAVANA 19.5

• Pressed Cuban Sandwich, Ybor City style with sour orange marinated pork loin, Genoa salami, ham, provolone and Swiss cheese. Yellow mustard-pickle relish
• Black bean soup
• House salad
• Tropical chips

PUERCO CHA CHA CHA 26

Three pork favorites in one jumbo cut: bone-in

loin chop with meaty rib and crisp pork belly.

"Boniato Bravas” and charred herb salsa.

VACIO STEAK ARGENTINO 24

Grilled Argentine-cut bavette steak,

Moros y Cristianos and tostones.

CHURRASCO A LA CUBANA 28.5

All natural Black Angus grilled skirt steak,

roasted garlic boniato-potato mash.

Parsley, lemon, onion sauce.

Watercress salad and red wine vinaigrette

RIBEYE JIBARO 35

16 oz. salmuera-rubbed bone-in

rib-eye steak. “Boniato bravas"

and grilled broccolini. Cuba Libre steak sauce

Add grilled shrimp to any steak or chop, +8

PESCADO Y PAELLA

(Seafood and Paella)

SHRIMP CON MOJO 27.5

Pan-seared citrus marinated jumbo shrimp, onions, peppers, sliced garlic and crisped yuca. Cilantro-lime mojo sauce. White rice

PARGO A LA PLANCHA 26

Olive oil griddled Florida red snapper.

Coconut basmati rice and candied cashews.

Mango salsa and red curry sauce

SEAFOOD PAELLA 31

Jumbo shrimp, little neck clams, mussels, Mahi-Mahi fillet, squid, baby octopus. Saffron long grain rice. Roasted piquillo pepper salad

GRILLED VEGETABLE PAELLA 21

Broccoli, zucchini, cauliflower, leeks, eggplant, wild mushrooms, artichoke hearts, saffron long grain rice. Asparagus and roasted piquillo pepper salad

CRISPY PORK PATA 62

48-hour slow-cooked Berkshire pork shank.

Grilled seasonal vegetables and Moros y Cristianos.

Citrus pan reduction

Limited quantity available

RIBEYE JIBARO "DOBLE" 70

32 oz. salmuera-rubbed bone-in rib-eye steak.

“Boniato bravas” and grilled broccolini. Cuba Libre steak sauce

PLATO GAUCHO MIXED GRILL 64

All natural Black Angus skirt and Argentine-cut bavette steaks, jumbo shrimp, marinated chicken breasts, Cortez chorizo sausage and red hot onion rings. Argentinean chimichurri, Cuba Libre steak sauce and salsa criolla

Add 32 per additional person

With lemongrass mojo

ARROZ CON FRIJOLES

Steamed white rice and Cuban black beans

MOROS Y CRISTIANOS

Traditional black beans and rice pilaf

Roasted garlic boniato-potato mash

Stir-fried cauliflower with oriental BBQ sauce

Crispy and creamy yuca. Cilantro-caper allioli

Cuba Libre

To celebrate the end of the Cuban War of Independence, US soldier Captain Russell ordered a BACARDÍ GOLD rum and cola with lime. Curious onlookers asked its name. The Captain proposed a toast, ‘Por Cuba Libre’, "For A Free Cuba", and the original Cuba Libre was born.

INGREDIENT:

1 part BACARDÍ GOLD Rum

2 parts cola (bottled)

To build this legendary cocktail, fill a highball glass with ice. Then squeeze 2 lime wedges over the ice and drop them into the glass. Pour in the BACARDÍ GOLD, followed by chilled cola, and give it all a gentle stir. garnish with lime.

© 2016 BACARDÍ , ITS TRADE DRESS, THE BAT DEVICE AND BACARDI UNTAMEABLE ARE TRADEMARKS.

Cuba Libre (Rum and Coke)

Ingredients (4)

• Ice
• 2 ounces Cuban-style rum
• 4 ounces chilled Coca-Cola, preferably Mexican Coke
• Wedge of lime

Distinguished cocktail writer Dale DeGroff says Coca-Cola followed American soldiers to Cuba during the Spanish-American War of 1898, and—soldiers being soldiers—fortifying Coke with ubiquitous Cuban rum was only natural. “Cuba libre! (Free Cuba!)” was the rallying cry of Cubans (and probably some hammered U.S. soldiers) keen on overthrowing Spanish colonial rule. Technically, it’s the spritz of lime that distinguishes a Cuba Libre from a regular old Rum and Coke.

What to buy: Look for a Cuban-style rum, such as Lost Spirits Distillery’s 151 Proof Cuban Style Rum. Mexican Coke in the traditional bottle is believed to be sweetened with cane sugar, rather than the high-fructose corn syrup of American Coke. If nothing else, it just looks cooler on the bar.

Cuba Libre Cocktail

Pour the rum and lime juice over the ice. Top up with cola.

Ingredients:

• 2 parts White rum
• top up Cola
• 1/2 part Lime juice
• 5 Ice cubes
• 1 Lime rind

4.13000011444092 117

Leave some comments about the Cuba Libre

it one of my lovely drink rum you can mixed with enything it never make you mad

This drink is improved no end by the addition of a couple of dashes of Angosturs bitters. I never have it without.

Gorgeous drink!! Drunk them everyday in Cuba!! Yum mmmm

Made with havana club, crushed ice and i (personally)love it with the lime muddled in first. all this together makes it a prefect summer drink

It's a defianate winter warmer, brings out the cuban in all of us!

this drink is great . . used to drink this alot in cuba! havana club is the only rum u can use in this lol nuthing else beats it

simple, yet effective, and probably without people knowing it, actually one of the most popular cocktails. however, it must be made with havana club, the only official cuban rum.

by Chris Kitson (mixologist)

Damn nice cocktail, and so very easy to make. Although it must be made with havana club rum. . . and drunk on the patio of the national hotel in Havana, Cuba.

by Robert Rowan

Use Havana Club (Cuban kerosene) or a Jamaican Rum (Appleton) Coke LimeBacardi is the ***** of rums