Long Drink
Cuba Libre
How to make a Cuba Libre - the Cuban longdrink of brown rum, cola and fresh lime. This is how you mix the refreshing classic correctly.
3 minPrep time
easyDifficulty
Highball glassGlass
1Serving(s)
The Cuba Libre is probably the best-known rum longdrink in the world and at home in every bar. Created around 1900 in Cuba, it lives on the combination of brown rum, cola and a splash of fresh lime. It is precisely this lime that turns an ordinary rum and cola into the true classic.
Instructions
- Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
- Pour the rum over the ice.
- Add fresh lime juice.
- Top up with well-chilled cola.
- Stir briefly and garnish with a lime wedge.
Garnish: Lime wedge on the rim
Pro tip: Squeeze a fresh lime wedge directly into the glass and drop it in - that is exactly what sets the Cuba Libre apart from a plain rum and cola.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Cuba Libre and rum and cola?
The Cuba Libre additionally contains fresh lime juice, which gives the drink freshness and acidity. Without lime it is simply a rum and cola.
Which rum works best?
Classically a brown Cuban rum. It brings caramel and vanilla notes that harmonize wonderfully with the cola.
Where does the name Cuba Libre come from?
The name means 'free Cuba' and goes back to the Cuban War of Independence around 1900, when US soldiers mixed rum with the then-new cola.
Ingredients
- Brown rum5 cl
- Cola12 cl
- Lime juice (fresh)2 cl
- Lime wedge1
