One of the world's most popular cocktails, the Cuba Libre carries IBA Contemporary Classic status and a name translating as 'Free Cuba,' a reference to its origins at the turn of the twentieth century. Light rum is built with fresh lime juice and Coca-Cola in a tall glass over ice and garnished with a lime wedge, producing a refreshing, bittersweet, citrus-bright highball. The IBA specification calls for a relatively large rum component, which pushes the stated strength to roughly 20 percent ABV and about 150 calories, stronger than many home renditions. The fresh lime is what elevates it above an ordinary rum and cola.
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Cuba Libre
Rum and Coke
Ingrédients
Instructions
Build all ingredients in a Collins glass filled with ice. Garnish with lime wedge.
Le Cuba Libre est un « Contemporary Classic » reconnu par l'IBA et l'un des cocktails les plus populaires au monde, associant rhum blanc, jus de citron vert frais et Coca-Cola dans un grand verre sur glace pour un highball rafraîchissant, doux-amer et vif d'agrumes. Avec 19,71 % vol., ce taux reflète la part relativement importante de rhum typique de la spécification de l'IBA, donnant une boisson plus forte que de nombreuses versions maison. Le nom se traduit par « Cuba libre », en référence à ses origines historiques au tournant du XXe siècle.
History & Origins
Cuba Libre originated in Havana, Cuba around 1900, following the Spanish-American War and American soldiers' discovery of Coca-Cola combined with Cuban rum. The drink's name was a patriotic toast to Cuban independence. Its popularization is sometimes attributed to a crowd of American soldiers celebrating in Havana with the new combination. The IBA recognized it as a Contemporary Classic, cementing its place as one of the defining rum cocktails globally.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Clean white rum, the sweet caramel-cola of Coca-Cola, and a bright, zesty lime note. Palate: Refreshing and well-balanced; the rum provides a clean alcoholic warmth, the Cola contributes sweetness and effervescence, and the lime juice cuts through both with its tartness. Finish: Clean, refreshing, and citrusy.
Pro Tip
Build directly in a Collins glass over ice, squeezing the lime juice in and dropping the spent lime wedge into the glass for additional citrus aroma throughout the drink.
Techniques utilisées
Variations
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the IBA ingredients for a Cuba Libre?
The IBA Cuba Libre recipe calls for 5 cl white rum, 12 cl cola, and 1 cl fresh lime juice, served over ice in a highball glass with a lime wedge garnish. The lime juice is the key element that separates a Cuba Libre from a plain rum and cola — it adds acidity and brightness that balances the sweetness of the cola. Some recipes add a splash of Angostura bitters for additional complexity.
How is a Cuba Libre correctly built?
The Cuba Libre is a built cocktail: ice goes into a highball glass first, the rum is poured over the ice, fresh lime juice is squeezed in, and the cola is added last to avoid losing carbonation by pouring. The drink is stirred gently once and garnished with a lime wedge squeezed and dropped in. Never shake a Cuba Libre — shaking destroys the cola's carbonation.
What distinguishes a Cuba Libre from a Rum and Coke?
A Rum and Coke is simply rum and cola; a Cuba Libre specifically requires fresh lime juice, which adds citric acidity and brightens the drink considerably. The name 'Cuba Libre' ('Free Cuba') also carries the historical weight of the drink's 1900 Havana origin and connection to Cuban independence. Bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts consider the lime essential to making a Cuba Libre rather than a simple mixed drink.
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