🥃 Cuba Libre
Long drink of white rum, cola and lime juice in a highball glass with ice (IBA, Contemporary Classics); by the best-known version, it appeared in Havana in 1900.
Cuba Libre is a long drink of white rum, cola and lime juice, built directly in a highball glass with ice. The International Bartenders Association (IBA) lists it among the contemporary classics: 50 ml of rum, 120 ml of cola and 10 ml of fresh lime juice, garnished with a lime wedge. The name means “Free Cuba”.
History. The most widespread account of its origin comes from Bacardi: in August 1900 in Havana, an American signals corps captain named Russell ordered rum with cola and lime and proposed a toast to a free Cuba. Fausto Rodríguez, who signed a written testimony in December 1964, confirmed the story; the account is not independently verified.
Cola in Cuba. According to Difford’s Guide, cola could have been in Havana in 1900: the company appointed a distributor there in May 1899, although the first products were soda-fountain syrup rather than bottles. The phrase “Cuba libre” was heard during Cuba’s struggle for independence from Spain, and after the 1898 war American troops remained on the island.
Recipe and variations. Cuba Libre differs from a plain rum and cola by its lime. Difford’s Guide suggests muddling lime wedges in the glass, using a Cuban rum such as Havana Club, and adding a dash of Angostura bitters; according to VinePair, early versions may also have contained bitters. A similar idea, a strong spirit with lime, is the Brazilian caipirinha.
Why this matters to you. Cola makes the taste sweet and hides the alcohol. In a serving made to the IBA recipe there are about 16 g of pure alcohol, more than one standard unit of 10 g. Cola also contains sugar and caffeine. Do not drive after this cocktail. WHO: there is no safe level of alcohol.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | rum 37.5–40% ABV; in the glass about 10% until the ice melts |
|---|---|
| Raw material | white rum, cola, lime juice |
| Year founded | 1900 (according to the Bacardi version, Havana) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Cuba Libre → affects → 🍷 Alcohol and health ← affects ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Made from
- 🥃 Cuban rum (Cuba)
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Related to
- 🥃 Bacardi Limited, 🌍 Latin America
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 Americans
- Part of
- 🥃 Rum
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Havana Club, 🥃 Caipirinha, 🥃 Hemingway Special
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Cuba Libre is simply rum and cola?
Not quite. Lime is an essential ingredient: according to the IBA, 10 ml of fresh juice and a wedge for garnish. Some recipes, such as Difford’s Guide, also add Angostura bitters.
Which rum should I use for a Cuba Libre?
The IBA specifies white rum. Difford’s Guide suggests a Cuban rum aged three years, for example Havana Club Añejo 3 Años.
Where does the name Cuba Libre come from?
“Cuba libre” (“Free Cuba”) was the slogan of Cuba’s struggle for independence from Spain. According to the Bacardi version, a toast with it was raised in Havana in 1900.
Who invented the Cuba Libre?
It is not known for certain. The best-known story, about Captain Russell in Havana in 1900, rests on Faustino Rodríguez’s testimony from 1964 and is spread mainly by Bacardi.
How much alcohol is in a Cuba Libre?
A serving made to the IBA recipe contains 50 ml of rum at about 40% ABV, which is roughly 16 g of pure alcohol. That is more than one standard unit of 10 g.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Americans — The people of the United States in North America, descendants of settlers and Native peoples; their home-grown cheese is California's Monterey Jack.
- 🌍 Latin America — A region from Mexico to the south of South America: about 9% of the world's milk, dulce de leche and fresh cheeses, Argentine and Chilean wines, olives.
- 🥃 Cuban rum (Cuba) — Rum from Cuban cane molasses aged in white oak casks; the application for the EU GI “Cuba” was published in 2023.
- 🥃 Bacardi Limited — Privately held spirits company founded in 1862 in Santiago de Cuba; global headquarters in Hamilton, Bermuda; more than 200 brands and labels.
Similar
🥃 Daiquiri · 🥃 Between the Sheets · 🥃 Cosmopolitan · 🥃 Brandy Crusta · 🥃 Eggnog · 🥃 Boulevardier
Sources
- IBA — International Bartenders Association: Cuba Libre (Contemporary Classics; 50 ml white rum, 120 ml cola, 10 ml fresh lime juice; highball; lime wedge)
- Difford's Guide: Cuba Libre (Havana Club 3 Años, lime, Angostura; history: Coca-Cola distributor in Havana May 1899, Bacardi's account of August 1900, Fausto Rodriguez affidavit 1964, Charles H. Baker 1939)
- VinePair: Cuban Rum Is Now Legal, So Go Make A Cuba Libre ('Cuba libre' as a rallying cry; early versions with Angostura bitters; origin hard to confirm)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)