Two parts Coca-Cola to one part Bacardi Limón make up the Citrus Coke, a flavored take on rum and cola assembled by pouring half the cola, adding the rum, then topping with the remainder and stirring. The lemon-flavored rum threads a light citrus note through the cola's caramel and vanilla, producing an easy, sessionable highball of roughly 8 percent ABV and about 86 calories. It functions essentially as a citrus upgrade to the Cuba Libre, trading the fresh lime of the original for the rum's built-in flavoring. The simplicity of the two-ingredient build keeps it firmly in the realm of casual, everyday drinking.
On this page
Citrus Coke
Zutaten
- Bacardi Limon 1 part
- Coca-Cola 2 parts
Anweisungen
Pour half of coke in a glass. Then add Bacardi and top it off with the remaining coke. Stir and drink up!
Citrus Coke is a simple and refreshing two-ingredient cocktail that adds Bacardi Limón citrus rum to Coca-Cola, creating a light, lemon-kissed rum and cola variation that is an easy-to-make, flavored upgrade to the classic Cuba Libre. At 8.32% ABV, it is a light and sessionable highball designed for straightforward, casual drinking. The Bacardi Limón's citrus flavoring pairs naturally with the caramel and vanilla notes in Coca-Cola.
History & Origins
Citrus Coke is a modern bar and home cocktail creation with disputed origins, a simple variation on the classic rum and cola that substitutes standard rum with Bacardi Limón for an instant citrus upgrade. The combination reflects the broader trend of flavored rum cocktails that accelerated in the 1990s with the introduction of flavored spirits to the market. No single inventor or historical documentation exists for this recipe.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Lemon-citrus from the Bacardi Limón with the familiar cola sweetness of Coca-Cola. Palate: Sweet and refreshing; the citrus rum's lemon flavor integrates pleasantly with the Coca-Cola's caramel, vanilla, and carbonation to create a lighter, citrusy take on rum and cola. Finish: Clean and sweet, with a lemon-citrus note.
Pro Tip
Pour the Coca-Cola into the glass over ice first, then gently add the Bacardi Limón to prevent the carbonation from foaming over, and stir very gently.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a Citrus Coke cocktail?
A Citrus Coke cocktail builds on rum, vodka, or a citrus-flavoured spirit combined with Coca-Cola or cola, with the addition of fresh citrus — typically lemon, lime, or orange — to amplify the citrus dimension of the cola's flavour profile. Some recipes add citrus-flavoured liqueur such as triple sec or limoncello for extra intensity. The result is a refreshed, more vibrant take on the standard rum-and-cola format.
How is the Citrus Coke cocktail served?
The Citrus Coke is a built drink: spirit, citrus juice, and any liqueur are combined in a tall glass with ice, then topped with cola. Gentle stirring preserves the carbonation. A lemon or lime wheel on the rim provides both garnish and an aromatic element. The drink is casual and refreshing, suited to warm-weather drinking.
How can the Citrus Coke be made more sophisticated?
Substituting premium aged rum for standard white rum adds barrel complexity; using artisan cola products with more pronounced citrus notes improves overall quality. A dash of orange or lemon bitters gives the drink an aromatic dimension closer to a proper cocktail. Freshly squeezed citrus juice — rather than bottled — and a generous expressed citrus peel garnish elevate the drink significantly.
Embed on your site — CocktailFYI
Add the widget to any webpage using a script tag.
<div data-cocktailfyi="recipe" data-slug="citrus-coke"></div>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/cocktailfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>Embed using a standard iframe — works in any CMS.
<iframe src="https://cocktailfyi.com/iframe/recipe/citrus-coke/" width="100%" height="480" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" title="CocktailFYI recipe widget"></iframe>Paste the URL into WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-aware editor.
https://cocktailfyi.com/recipes/citrus-coke/Add a badge linking back to CocktailFYI.
<a href="https://cocktailfyi.com/recipes/citrus-coke/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
<img src="https://cocktailfyi.com/badge/site.svg" alt="CocktailFYI" height="20">
</a>
Use the CocktailFYI WordPress plugin shortcode.
[drinkfyi-recipe site="cocktailfyi" slug="citrus-coke"]Use as a native HTML custom element in modern browsers.
<cocktailfyi-recipe slug="citrus-coke" theme="light"></cocktailfyi-recipe>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/cocktailfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>Powered by CocktailFYI
Docs →