This is a simple cocktail but it’s one of my favorites; simple to make and so refreshing it’s something I can drink year round. The truth is that long before I ever tried a Cuba Libre I was long hooked on Coca Cola with a slice of lime. Somewhere along the way (of course not until I was 21!!) I was introduced to my favorite drink with an adult beverage as part of the mix. Immediate love. It may be a simple drink but it does not have a simple history.
After the end of the Spanish-American war in 1898, the United States occupied Cuba until 1902 and in a twist that seems appropriate for a major corporation in today’s climate, that also signaled the beginning of sales of Coca Cola in Cuba. In August of 1900, while celebrating the US victory over Spain in Cuba, Captain Russell of the United States Army Signal Corps, ordered Bacardi rum (at that time THE rum of Cuba) with a Coca Cola and a slice of lime. His toast of “Por Cuba libre!” in celebration of a free Cuba had a special political significance and was frequently used by Cubans and Americans alike; the name and the cocktail were forever married and that was that.
A second war more than 40 years later saw a resurgence in the popularity of this drink. By 1944, all American distillers, no matter their size, were required to turn 100 percent of their production over to Uncle Sam which resulted in low domestic supplies of many favorite liquors. At the same time Caribbean rum was plentiful enough to make up for that. With some irony, sugar was being rationed which meant most people did not have enough to make daiquiris or Collins cocktails but the one company that was big enough to pull strings and continue production? Coca Cola!
Prohibition eventually ended but this cocktail’s popularity did not. Though now made with any variety of different rums and coke from bottled to diet to caffeinated…it’s still a popular drink and still a symbol of ‘free Cuba’ by dissidents in that country.
Recreating the ‘original’ Cuba Libre would be impossible today. It’s not just rumor or heresy, the truth is that Coca Cola at one time included a considerable amount of cocaine and it wasn’t until 1904 when executives started to explore phasing out the cocaine content from the beverage; that was accomplished soon thereafter. Bacardi moved their Cuban operation to Puerto Rico after prohibition so though there is some attempt by Bacardi to hang onto the Cuban legacy, they are no longer a Cuban rum so any attempt today to recreate that original drink with Cuban rum and a cola with cocaine would have to be a much more clandestine adventure then the one I took to secure ingredients. I was excited just to find glass bottles of Coca Cola made in Mexico. They are typically manufactured with cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup and are more representative of Coca Cola from days gone by. The ingredients may not be the same but in the spirit of hoping someday the people of Cuba are free, I say ‘Cuba Libre!’
A simple but spirited drink with an interesting history.
Ingredients
- 4 oz Coca Cola
- 2 oz rum (I use light or dark, whichever one I have on hand)
- 1/2 lime cut in half
Preparation
- Squeeze the juice of the lime quarters into a tall glass.
- Drop one of the lime quarters into the glass.
- Add ice cubes.
- Pour the rum into the glass and stir
- Add the coke and stir gently.
- Top with remaining lime quarter and serve with or without straws.

















{ 51 comments… read them below or add one }
This is a delicious cocktail and very easy to prepare, even the ingredients you already have them in home.
It is odd; I love all the components of this drink, but I don’t like them together.
That is funny. I promise I won’t make you drink one. :)
This is my all time favorite drink! I love to make it with a dark rum also, Meyer’s is my favorite.
Rhonda Most Recent Post: Cocktails for Lovers
I always use dark rum too…I like it better in foods and I’m not the type to want to keep a bottle of each so dark it is. With a REAL Coke. Yummm.
I may have to go back to drinking soda again so I can enjoy one of my favorite cocktails of all time! Besides, I have a ton of limes to use and the lime totally makes this drink the lovely little nectar that it is.
Lori @ Lemons and Lavender Most Recent Post: Hawaiian Coconut Candy
I was there. It had been awhile and when I saw the bottles of coke at the grocery; I had to. Glad I did. Unfortunately it’s not fit for diets. For me? ONLY good if I use the ‘real’ thing!
Oh how I love your cocktail posts… :)
I never thought about the origin of the drink, though I’ve certainly had a few! Lovely photos, too!
Jen Schall Most Recent Post: Ideas for Vanilla Beans (WFMW)
Thanks Jen…ave doing them. Have a special one coming this Friday; the more I do them the more I love finding the history of some of them.
First time here… I came over from Foodgawker. Beautiful pictures! Cuba libre is one of my favourite cocktails and one that brings back memories of the best holiday I have had so far… in Cuba. Funnily enough, they use some other cola now. Not sure if it is a Mexican or a Canadian brand. But the rum there is to die for. I am lucky enough to find Cuban rum in Australia too and it tastes soooo much better!!! :-) Great post!
Manu Most Recent Post: Comment on MALLOREDDUS ALLA CAMPIDANESE by jules @ bananamondaes
Thanks for such a nice comment…and a real life experience. I think Havana Club is THE rum of Cuba now; I’ll bet it is good! Thanks for the visit, nice to ‘virtually’ meet you!
Cuba Libre! Viva la Revolución! I always enjoy delving into the history of a tradition, a dish, cocktail, etc. and I do love a refreshing rum & coke with lime in the dog days of summer, great post :)
Me too Priscilla…maybe I like it because it’s just so easy and so refreshing; not a lot of time and thought has to go into preparing it. Though I will think now each time I have one of the greater meaning I’m sure.
I remember when i first heard the name of this cocktail, I wanted to know more about why it is called like this. I am loving the history behind it. This is actually one of my favorites.
I must admit that I, too, enjoy a rum and coke with lime. It is definitely refreshing… and very easy to drink :-)
Brian @ A Thought For Food Most Recent Post: {Silent Sunday: 3 Little Figs}
All that and more…it’s vegetarian! Whoo hoo!!
Such a fun post, loved the history! Photos to die for as always :)
Wendy Read – Sunchowder Most Recent Post: Crusty Cheese and Onion Muffin Disaster
Thanks Wendy; I’m sort of getting into the history of drinks lately and it’s fun to find out how they came to be.
I’m with Maris-takes me back to college days. I love posts with history of the recipe and this recipe is definitely very interesting. Really fun post and lovely photos. :)
Lora ~ cakeduchess Most Recent Post: Beet, Orange, Kumquat, and Quinoa Salad
I really didn’t drink until I was 21 and I was out of college by then so I, sob, do not have those experiences…but I do think it was the first cocktail and know I still love it today (of course, it might be that real Coke in a bottle that does me in!).
Very interesting history of this drink. I used to drink Cola and lime too..well, diet coke and lime. I quit diet coke, but now I crave it – with lime. Dammit.
Lisa Most Recent Post: Orange Chocolate Toasted Pecan Sticky Buns and Bad Boy First Love, Part One
Oops…sorry. Ah…do the real thing!
Love the photos of the bottled coke, of course. I couldn’t help notice that I just needed a straw to go with….. where did you get the crushed ice? You’re going to laugh, because I am a regular at Sonic Drive-In for happy hour Diet Dr. Pepper with their crushed ice. ta da. :”) I love their ice so I’m thinking if you have a secret maybe you could share? I learned some history which, I might add kept me on the page and apparently may other pairs of eyes as well. YAY! Thanks Captain.
AmyRuth
Really seriously laughing out loud AmyRuth. My secret? Sonic. Yes it’s true. My icemaker was on the fritz and I had always noticed their sign selling ice so I bought some til I could get it fixed. I love it more; I’m not fixing it. I buy a bag every two weeks!
Ah HA! We are Good! I love it that it was “signature Sonic” ice. Thanks for the reply and I am laughing out loud…. now. :”)
AmyRuth
Interesting psot-fun to read. This drink definitely takes me back to college!
Yes…it all started way back then and for me…the love continues to this day. Lasted longer than a husband. :)
lovely simple drink and fun history
thanks for your comment your an inspiration
hugs
rebecca Most Recent Post: Thoughts on Being an Entrepreneur
Rum and Coke reminds me of college. This was what people who didn’t like alcohol would drink. Your story is fascinating and I didn’t know all of this. Pretty cool, B!
Jamie Most Recent Post: CAULIFLOWER AND POTATO GRATIN
Me too…but I have always loved this drink. The lime makes all the difference. I can’t even drink a regular coke without lime to cut the sweetness…but with it. YUMMO (she said in her best, ‘I am NOT Rachel Ray’ voice). :O
Delicious :) Definitely a nice drink to have ~ I like most cocktails with Coca Cola hehe
Daisy@Nevertoosweet Most Recent Post: Sugar High – Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
I do too Daisy. Truth is I don’t drink much diet soda; I have it on hand but I would take a glass of ice water over soda typically…but LOVE having the occasional real bottle of coke; my sister sent me a six pack for Christmas once she knows how much I love those little bottles!
Mexican Coca Cola is a gift from the gods. I love that it’s sold in supermarkets anywhere there’s a good sized Mexican community around. Heck, Costco has it from time to time, too.
I remember drinking a lot of it in Tijuana, when I would cross the border with my mom to go shopping. It was the only thing kids could drink since you couldn’t drink the water there. Boy was it delicious, but I swear it made you thirstier!
Anne-Marie @ This Mama Cooks! Most Recent Post: Juicing with Centrum ProNutrients Probiotics {giveaway} #NutritionPossible
It is so good isn’t it? I found this at King Soopers but I have seen it at Costco too; seems that was months ago. I don’t drink diet soda…I’m a water kind of girl but I LOVE real coke in a bottle. I only bought two bottles so I wouldn’t go nuts. Which I think I might do now…now that I’m thinking about it; I’m DYING for some.
Have you moved yet or still here in Colorado? As much as I love Colorado; I sure loved Boston too…both great places to live in my book.
Great post about one of my favorite drinks! Thanks for the history..
Thank you Janet; it’s been fun to see how many people relate to this cocktail…who knew!?
Cuba Libre evokes the tropics and good, relaxing times. Your pretty shots make it even more alluring, my dear!
Thank you Nisrine…maybe I’m wishing for the tropics about now. Brrrr. And cheers!
Looks refreshing! Could I please get a copy of the Nordstrom Nicoise Salmon Salad.
Many Thanks!
Lori, I have searched and searched for those recipe files and just can’t locate them. If you have a local Nordstrom’s could you contact their cafe and ask for theirs. I’m overwhelmed with work right now and my connection there has moved on so I would have to do a lot of leg work to get that again. Let me know how it goes…Barb
I had to laugh when I saw this post this morning. Last night while watching reruns of The Big Bang Theory Sheldon ordered a Cuba Libre without the Cuba while Penny was practicing her bartending skills. I had never heard a rum and coke called a Cuba Libre before and it was such a coincidence, I had to smile.
Your shot is awesome. It almost makes me want to order a Cuba Libre, but I’m like Sheldon, I’ll have mine sans the Cuba please. And don’t forget the lime!
Hehe…I’m on the cutting edge I tell ya! Now I would think w/o the Cuba would be just the coke and lime. Oh no you don’t sister…gots to include the booze!
Yeah, Penny told Sheldon to swim to Cuba when he asked for it without the rum and with the lime. :D
Loved this history lesson. I did not know that Coca-Cola once contained cocaine! Gives a whole new meaning to being stoned drunk! Great post Barb.
Paula Most Recent Post: How To Make a Royal Icing Gazebo
Doesn’t it though? Now that you know, the name makes more sense doesn’t it? Those were seriously good times…just amazing to think that it was legal; I shake my head every time I think about that!
An awesome combination and cocktail!
Cheers,
Rosa
I guess I never thought about the origination of this drink even though I mixed a million of them while bartending in my 20s. Interesting story. It conjures up the scenes in The Godfather when they were visiting then fleeing Cuba. I would loved to have had one of those original drinks. Those people knew how to party.
Karen Harris Most Recent Post: Abby Dodge’s Bake Together Peasant Boule and My Italian Inspired Pull Apart Bread Variation
I love Cuba Libres, but haven’t had one for so long. This was such a fun post to read – I had no idea about this history of this drink. Now, each time I drink one, I’ll have to give a toast to Captain Russell.
Cookin’ Canuck Most Recent Post: The Caesar Cocktail, aka the Canadian Bloody Mary Recipe
I always knew what the words meant but not the full details of how the name transpired. It was an interesting history lesson. Maybe if all history lessons when I was a kid could have brought in a food or beverage reference I would have found it more interesting. :)
Some ex-patriots call the drink “Mentira,” meaning a lie, because Cuba is not free.
I did not know that and it makes sense. Some country or leader has always wanted to control Cuba and it’s people; I’m sure I would feel the same way.
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