Cube Libre - A Beautiful Mess

Let’s learn to make a Cube Libre cocktail. This delicious drink is a mix of rum, cola and lime juice. Cube Libre translates to “Free Cuba” and it’s the national drink of Cuba.

This simple drink is one of the most popular Cuban cocktails of all time along with our favorites, the Mojito and Daiquiri. Let’s learn to mix one up at home!

More recipes: Dark & Stormy, Rum Runner, Green Tea Shot, Basic Jello Shots.

Ingredients

Rum – Use gold rum and choose a Cuban rum if you have it.
Coca-Cola – The one and only. Many prefer Mexican Coke since it’s made with sugar instead of corn syrup.
Lime Juice – Fresh squeezed is best.
Lime – Sliced for garnish.

The traditional glass to use for this drink is a highball glass and you can serve mine in a rocks glass. I chose the rocks glass because that’s how I’ve seen it served most in bars. You can choose whatever glass you have on hand.

Directions

Fill a glass with ice and add rum.

Squeeze in the lime juice.

Pour cola until the drink is topped off. Give it a stir.

Garnish with lime wheels or a lime wedge.

Tips for Making

Choose a Cuban rum if possible and the best choice is gold rum.
Squeeze the peel of a lime over your finished drink to release more lime essence.
In my opinion, adding extra limes is encouraged. Before mixing your drink, drop half the spent lime shell into the glass and muddle with lime juice.

History of the Cube Libre

The Cube Libre rose to popularity in Havana in the early 1900s during the Spanish-American War. The drink’s name Cuba Libre (while means “Free Cuba”) was the slogan of the Cuban independence movement.

Not so coincidentally, this was around the same time Coca-Cola began importing from the U.S. to Cuba. In subsequent years, Coca-Cola and Bacardi have worked hard to brand their products into this drink recipe. A Bacardi advertising executive claimed to be present when the first Cube Libre was mixed and even used this story in a Life magazine ad in the 1960s (give this man a raise, am I right?). As with many classic cocktail recipes, the origins are unconfirmed.

Cube Libre Variations

Some recipes recommend a dash of Angostura bitters.
For extra lime flavor, run the inside of a lime around the edge of the glass to release some essence onto the rim of your glass. You can also muddle a cut lime inside the glass before assembling the drink for a little extra flavor.
Try different rums. Gold rum is recommended, but I often make this recipe using dark rum with great results. When anejo (aged) rum is used for this drink, it is often called a Cubata.
Try adding lemon or mint for different flavor variations.

Serving Suggestions

Our favorite comfort food recipes that pair well:

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a Rum and Coke and Cube Libre?

Technically, the only difference is the addition of lime juice, but in such a simple drink that one ingredient makes a big impact.

What language is Cuba Libre?

Spanish. Cube Libre is Spanish for “Free Cuba.”

What is the alcohol content of a Cuba Libre?

Most recipes will have between 13% and 18% alcohol content per mixed drink.

Get our FREE recipe guide with our most popular recipes of all time!

Get the Guide

Get the Recipe

Learn to make a classic Cube Libre at home.

Yield 1 cocktail

Prep 5 minutes

Instructions

Fill a glass with ice and add rum.
Squeeze in the lime juice.
Top with cola and give it a stir.
Garnish with lime wheels.

Notes

Choose a Cuban rum if possible and the best choice is gold rum.
Squeeze the peel of lime over your finished drink to release more lime essence.
In my opinion, adding extra limes is encouraged. Lime juice is a huge part of what makes this recipe perfect, so garnish with a few extra lime wheels if you wish.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Cube Libre

Amount per Serving

% Daily Value*

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

Cube Libre – A Beautiful Mess