Rum and Coke facts for kids
| IBA official cocktail | |
|---|---|
| Type | Cocktail |
| Primary alcohol by volume | |
| Served | On the rocks; poured over ice |
| Standard garnish | Lime wedge |
| Standard drinkware |
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| IBA specified ingredients  |
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| Preparation | Build all ingredients in a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with lime wedge. |
| Cuba libre recipe at International Bartenders Association |
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The Cuba Libre (pronounced "KEW-bə LEE-bray"), also known as Rum and Coke, is a popular mixed drink. It usually contains cola, rum, and often lime juice, served over ice. Traditionally, the cola used is Coca-Cola and the rum is a light rum, like Bacardi. However, people can make this drink with different types of rum and various cola brands. Sometimes, the lime juice is left out.
This mixed drink first appeared in the early 1900s in Cuba. This was after Cuba gained its independence in the Spanish–American War. The drink quickly became popular in Cuba, the United States, and other countries. Its simple recipe and easy-to-find ingredients have made it one of the most well-known mixed drinks around the world.
Contents
The Story of the Cuba Libre
The Cuba Libre was created in Cuba in the early 1900s. Its exact beginning is not fully known. It became popular soon after 1900, which is when bottled Coca-Cola first arrived in Cuba from the United States. The drink's origin is linked to the strong presence of the U.S. in Cuba after the Spanish–American War in 1898. The name "Cuba Libre" means "Free Cuba," which was a famous slogan of the Cuban independence movement.
Some people believe the Cuba Libre was invented during the Spanish-American War. However, this is unlikely because Coca-Cola was not available in Cuba until 1900. There was a drink called "Cuba Libre" in 1898, but it was a different mix of water and brown sugar.
Who Invented the Drink?
Fausto Rodriguez, who worked for Bacardi rum, said he was there when the drink was first made. In 1965, he even signed a sworn statement saying so. According to Rodriguez, this happened in August 1900. He was 14 years old and working as a messenger for a U.S. Army group in Havana.
One day at a local bar, Rodriguez's boss ordered Bacardi rum mixed with Coca-Cola. A group of American soldiers nearby were curious and ordered the same drink. This is how a new popular drink was supposedly born. Bacardi shared Rodriguez's story in a magazine ad in 1966. However, because Rodriguez worked for Bacardi, some people wonder if his story is completely true. Another story says the drink was first made in 1902 at Havana's El Floridita restaurant. This was to celebrate the anniversary of Cuba's independence.
How the Drink Became Popular
The Cuba Libre became a common drink in Cuba because its ingredients were easy to find. Havana was already known for its cold drinks in the 1800s. This was because it was one of the few warm cities that could get lots of ice shipped from colder places.
After Cuba became independent, many foreign visitors and investors came. This helped Bacardi and other Cuban rums become very popular. Light rums, like Bacardi, were favored for mixed drinks because they blended well. Coca-Cola had been a common mixer in the United States since 1886. It became a widely available drink in many countries after it was first sent abroad in 1900.
Spreading to the United States
Rum and Coke quickly moved from Cuba to the United States. In the early 1900s, this mixed drink, like Coca-Cola itself, was most popular in the Southern United States. During the Prohibition Era, from 1922 to 1933, alcohol was illegal in the U.S. Coca-Cola became a popular mixer to make low-quality rums taste better.
After Prohibition ended, rum and Coke became popular across the northern and western U.S. as well. It was enjoyed by many different kinds of people.
World War II and the Song
Rum and Coke became even more popular during World War II. Starting in 1940, the United States set up military bases in the British West Indies. This was to help protect against the German Navy. American soldiers and local people started to enjoy each other's products. American military members liked Caribbean rum because it was inexpensive. Coca-Cola became very common on the islands because the company shipped it there with the military. In the United States, imported rum became more popular. This was because government rules reduced how much alcohol American companies could make.
In 1943, a Calypso song called "Rum and Coca-Cola" brought more attention to the drink. The song was sung by Lord Invader in Trinidad. It was based on an older song but had new lyrics about American soldiers and local girls drinking rum and Coke. A comedian named Morey Amsterdam copied the song and gave it to The Andrews Sisters. Their version was a huge hit in 1945 and made rum and Coke even more popular, especially among soldiers. Lord Invader and the original song's owners later successfully sued Amsterdam for the song's rights.
Changes After the Cuban Revolution
During the Cuban Revolution in 1959, Bacardi moved its operations to Puerto Rico. The next year, the U.S. put an embargo on Cuba. This stopped Cuban products from being imported into the U.S. Cuba also stopped importing American products. Because Cuban rum was not available in the U.S. and Coca-Cola was mostly unavailable in Cuba, it became hard to make a traditional Cuba Libre in either country.
How to Make a Cuba Libre
Recipes for the Cuba Libre can vary a bit in amounts and extra ingredients. However, the main parts are always rum and cola. The International Bartenders Association suggests using 5 centiliters of light rum, 12 centiliters of cola, and 1 centiliter of fresh lime juice, all served over ice. You can use any amount and mix of rum and cola you like. While light rum is traditional, dark rums and other types are also often used.
Types of Cola and Lime
Coca-Cola is the usual cola for this drink. This goes back to the drink's origins in Cuba. It became even more common in the 1920s when Coca-Cola became the main cola brand. Other colas are sometimes used. In Cuba, since Coca-Cola has not been imported since the U.S. embargo in 1960, the local TuKola is used in Cuba Libres. Other common versions use Mexican Coke (which has cane sugar), Diet Coke (called Cuba Lite), or even Dr. Pepper.
Lime is traditionally part of the drink, but it is often left out, especially if someone just orders "rum and Coke." Some old recipes said to mix in lime juice, while others only used lime as a garnish. Some people believe that lime is essential for a drink to be a true Cuba Libre, separating it from a simple rum and Coke. However, lime is often included even when people ask for "rum and Coke."
Other Variations
When aged añejo rum is used, the drink is sometimes called a Cubata. This name is also used informally in Spain for any Cuba Libre. Some newer recipes, inspired by older ones, include extra ingredients like bitters. More complex versions with even more ingredients exist. For example, the Cinema Highball uses rum that tastes like buttered popcorn mixed with cola. Another is the Mandeville cocktail, which has light and dark rum, cola, citrus juice, along with Pernod absinthe and grenadine.
See also
In Spanish: Cubalibre para niños
