Cuba Libre
Fresh, fizzy and gently tart: white rum, lime juice and cola in the classic Cuban partnership.
Ingredients
- White rum50 ml
- Lime juice, freshly squeezed10 ml
- Colatop up
- Lime, to garnish (optional)1 wedge
Method
- Fill a highball glass with plenty of fresh ice.
- Pour in the white rum.
- Add the fresh lime juice.
- Top up with cola.
- Stir briefly with a bar spoon to mix without losing the bubbles.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
About this drink
The Cuba Libre appeared around 1900, when Coca-Cola arrived in Cuba, and its name toasted the island's newly won freedom from Spain. The lime is what sets it apart from a simple rum and cola, and most bartenders insist on fresh juice for the right brightness.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between a Cuba Libre and a rum and cola?
Fresh lime juice. It lifts the drink from a simple highball to a proper cocktail by adding acidity to balance the sweetness of the cola. Without lime, it is just a rum and cola.
Which rum works best in a Cuba Libre?
A light, dry white rum lets the cola and lime lead without adding too much character of its own. A dark or spiced rum works too, but moves the drink closer to a Dark 'N' Stormy in style.
