Cuba Libre

Cuba Libre - Long live free Cuba! The recipe for the long drink popular around the world
Cuba Libre Cocktail Rezept - Rum mit Cola
Strength:
mittelstark (11% - 19%)
Era:
Golden Age (1860 - 1920)
Erfunden von:
???
Origin:
Cuba
Cuba Libre

The Cuba Libre (Spanish for Free Cuba) is one of the most common long drink cocktails in the world. No wonder, it has just three components and is simple to prepare. All the utensils you need can be found in (almost) every kitchen.

The original Cuba Libre of that time would be unthinkable or forbidden today, because it contained large amounts of cocaine – one of the original main ingredients for Coca-Cola.If you want to learn more about the cocktail, just keep scrolling. Below the recipe you will find the history and some interesting facts about Cuba Libre.

  • Prep Time2 min
  • Cook Time1 min
  • Total Time3 min
  • Yield1 jar
  • Serving Size180 ml
  • Energy158 cal
  • Cuisine
    • mediterran
  • Course
    • Getränk
  • Cooking Method
    • Stir

Zutaten

For the Cuba Libre

Barstuff

  • Long drink glass
  • Citrus juicer
  • Drinking Straw
  • Bar spoon

Zubereitung

1
Add about a handful of ice cubes to a highball glass. Squeeze the lime and pour the juice, together with the rum, over the ice cubes into the glass.
2
Top with cola, stir and garnish with a lime wedge or lime zest. Serve with a drinking straw. Your Cuba Libre is ready!
Hint:

Of course, you can also go for the cheaper Coca-Cola. What is allowed is what tastes good. I like to use the Fentimans as it is more complex and spicy and takes the Cuba Libre to a whole other level.

  • Nährwerte

  • 1 servings per container
  • Serving Size180 ml
  • Amount per serving
  • Calories158
  • % Daily Value*Standard DV
  • Total Fat0.3 g78 g0.38%
  • Total Carbohydrate10.9 g275 g3.96%
  • Total Sugars10.9 g
  • Protein0.2 g50 g0.4%
  • Calcium3.3 mg1300 mg0.25%
  • Iron0.1 mg18 mg0.56%
  • Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)2.9 mg90 mg3.22%
  • Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)0.005 mg1.2 mg0.42%
  • Magnesium0.6 mg420 mg0.14%
  • Alkohol28 g

The history of the long drink

The drink originated sometime around the beginning of the 19th century, at the end of the Spanish-American War. It was not new in Cuba to mix rum with lime juice and a sweet filler to make the rum drinkable at all. At that time, people mainly used a molasses made from sugar cane syrup and water sweetened with honey.

When the Americans landed in Cuba, they had Coca-Cola in their luggage, which at the time was considered a health-promoting and stimulating drink. It was probably only a few days before the first soldiers replaced the cardboard-sweet molasses with Coca-Cola and created today’s Cuba Libre.

Legend has it that future U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders were instrumental in its creation. At the time of the war, Roosevelt was a colonel and stationed in Cuba. A classy story for an evening at the bar. However, the truth of the claim can no longer be verified.

The right rum for the Cuba Libre

As the name suggests, a Cuban rum* is used for a classic Cuba Libre. The best-known brand for this is probably Havana Club. You shouldn’t use really high-quality rum for your Cuba Libre, however, as its more complex flavors will be masked by the dominant cola.
However, a slightly aged, but not too expensive rum is worthwhile, as it expands the flavor profile of the drink. But then you should also go for a high-quality cola.

The right cola for the long drink

As a filler, cola is the main ingredient of this long drink. Today’s Coca-Cola no longer has much in common with the original recipe from the 19th century. Not only was cocaine involved then, it tasted different.
For this reason, I prefer to use somewhat higher-quality colas from smaller manufacturers for the Cuba Libre. You can clearly taste the difference to normal Coke. Especially if you’re using higher quality rum, go for a filler that’s less sweet and delivers a more complex flavor profile.

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