The Cuba Libre is one of the most popular cocktails, and very easy to make. It is very similar, but not exactly the same as a rum and Coke.
You remember the rum and Coke don't you? I know I do. It was probably the first cocktail I ever ordered in a bar because, number 1, I knew what it was, and number 2, it sounded good at the time. Sugar and alcohol - what's not to like?
However, the Cuba Libre and the rum and Coke are not the same cocktail. The names are not interchangeable. If you ask for a rum and Coke in a bar you will probably get just rum and Coke. You may get a lime slice for a garnish, but that's still not the same as a Cuba Libre.
The Difference Between a Cuba Libre and a Rum and Coke
The Cuba Libre is made from rum, Coke, and fresh lime juice. The lime juice is the defining ingredient that makes a Cuba Libre different than a rum and Coke, and the essential ingredient that makes a Cuba Libre much better than a rum and Coke.
A rum and Coke is very sweet, too sweet for many people. The addition of the lime cuts through some of that sweetness and adds a brightness and zip that changes the flavor profile and makes this drink lighter and not so syrupy.
If you order a Cuba Libre in Cuba, it will likely be made with TuKola, the Cuban version of Coke since Coke is not legally available in Cuba. I say legally because the U.S. do not allow it to be shipped to Cuba, but it is sometimes available there, having been brought in from other countries.
TuKola, means "your cola," and unlike Coke, it's made with cane sugar, instead of corn syrup, so it has a slightly different flavour profile.
History of the Cuba Libre
The history of the Cuba Libre dates back to around 1900 and the end of the Spanish-American war. It is reported that at that time people were drinking rum and Coke but the drink did not have a name, and let's face it, 'Rum and Coke' is not very creative.
Supposedly, an American soldier living in Cuba was in a bar, drinking a rum and Coke with lime. Other soldiers, also tried the drink, liked it, and someone suggested the name Cuba Libre, which means "Free Cuba." "Free Cuba" was the rallying cry of the Cuban rebels, eager to get out from under Spanish subjugation.
It is unknown if Bacardi was the rum of choice, but it was prevalent then in Cuba. Even if Bacardi rum was not used, Bacardi saw the opportunity to insert itself into the narrative, got behind the story, and promoted it, making the Cuba Libre one of the most popular cocktails in the world.
This May Not be What Actually Happened
That's the documented story on several websites including Wikipedia, however, Wikipedia also states that Cubans were drinking a drink called the Cuba Libre made with water and brown sugar as early as 1898, predating the above story.
There's also some evidence that the Cuba Libre was invented at the El Floridita restaurant in Havana in 1902 to celebrate the anniversary of Cuban independence.
Whatever the truth, we all benefit from this deliciously simple cocktail.
Cuba Libre Ingredients
Rum: Light rum is usually recommended for the original "official" recipe, but use any rum you like, gold, dark/black, overproof, etc. Or you could do a side-by-side to see which style you prefer. The official recipe does not call for Cuban rum.
Coke: I prefer Coke, but any cola will do. Use whatever you like.
Lime juice: Fresh squeezed lime juice is a must. Please don't use bottled lime juice, you will regret it for the rest of your days.
How to Make a Cuba Libre
Ingredients
Directions
Add all ingredients to a highball glass filled with ice and stir.
Add a lime wedge for a bit of color and to add some additional citrus brightness to the taste.
Pro Tips
- Try muddling a lime wedge into the glass first, before adding the ice and lime juice to release the oils from the lime rind, then dispose of the peel before making the drink. Be sure to add a second, fresh lime wedge for garnish.
- Please use only fresh squeezed lime juice, not bottled. The taste difference is significant.
- Don't omit the lime juice, without it you're just drinking a boring, overly sweet rum and Coke
- For a variation on the original try using different styles of rum - light, gold, dark/black, overproof, rhum agricole, or cachaça
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