Cuba Libre Recipe
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The Cuba Libre is a basic white rum drink mixed with Coca-Cola. Those who think that the Cuba Libre is an uninspired drink should take note of its history. Bottled Coca-Cola was barely a decade old during the Spanish-American War when the Rough Riders added Cuban rum to it and loudly toasted “Cuba libre!”—Free Cuba! Some will also recall that Coke’s inventor, John Pemberton, used cocaine in the original formula, and one can only imagine what the first Cuba Libre was like. Coke was also only a nickel a bottle, and rum was one of the least expensive of alcohols, so it is no surprise how quickly and extensively the drink caught on. As an aside, H. L. Mencken wrote in his book The American Language of a variation: “The troglodytes of western South Carolina coined ‘jump stiddy’ for a mixture of Coca-Cola and denatured alcohol (usually drawn from automobile radiators); connoisseurs reputedly preferred the taste of what had been aged in Model-T Fords.” Stick with the rum.
Cuban rum should be served in a Cuba Libre, but unless you know someone traveling back from Havana, the chances of finding it are about as remote as winning the lottery. Note that the Cuba Libre goes down easy—too easy. “One too many” does not seem to apply here as much as “four too many.” Drinker discretion is advised.
Custom has it that a Cuba Libre may be shaken, but only after it has been drunk—move your feet to the beat of Perez Prado mambo.
- 2 ounces light rum
- Cold Coca-Cola
- Wedge of lime
- Pour the rum over ice into a chilled highball glass, and add Coke to fill. Squeeze in a lime wedge.
Variation:
Mexicola: Substitute tequila for the rum.
This recipe, while from a trusted source, may not have been tested by the CHOW food
team.
Copyright Quirk Books
I only use Bacardi rum because the other rum brands make
me tired and slow, and be sure to get big ice chunks for a real cold drink.
It is simple to find good Cuban rum here in Canada (not that I drink Coke...). Just fizzy water is good with a squeeze of lime and rum.
Chefartist, does little Grenada produce any rum?
A Cuba Libre is not just a rum and Coke. I'm having a rum and Coke right now and it is not a Cuba Libre because I have not squeezed in a wedge of line. The flavor when you do that is entirely different (and far better), and, I would suggest, is what makes them go down so easily.
good drink that sounds like a regular rum and coke that we drink in the southern carribean(GRENADA)...
A good drink, and I'll make it with Dominican or Puerto Rican rum, thanks. I do think sugared Coke (usually Mexican) rather than the typical HF Corn Syrup stuff is worth a little effort. But when I can get my hands on some Cuban rum, its yummy vanilla-y anejo stuff,. and I am drinking it neat.
Coke may have been a nickel in days gone by, but Coke has kept up with inflation; a nickel then works out to about a buck in modern cash.
Sounds good, but that ain't no highball glass in the picture.