Cuba Libre: Rum and Cola Recipe and the Right Ratio
There is only one ingredient separating a Cuba Libre from an ordinary rum and cola: fresh lime. Without it, you simply have a sweet mixed drink. With it, you get a cocktail that the International Bartenders Association (IBA) classifies among its contemporary classics. The acidity of the lime balances the sweetness of the cola and allows the rum to stand out more. You can mix the drink directly in the glass in just two minutes.
What kind of drink is a Cuba Libre?
Cuba Libre is a long drink (a mixed drink served in a tall glass over ice) made with white rum, cola and lime juice. It is mixed directly in the glass and served with a lime wedge. The name comes from Spanish and means “Free Cuba”.
What distinguishes it from an ordinary rum and cola is the lime. Rum and cola is a two-ingredient mix that can be made with any rum in almost any ratio. Cuba Libre follows a defined recipe: white rum, cola and 10 ml of fresh lime juice.
Cuba Libre ingredients
Tip: You can buy both bottles shown in the photo directly from us – Bacardi Carta Blanca and fritz-kola Original.
For one drink according to the official recipe, you will need:
- white rum
- cola
- fresh lime juice
- ice – enough to fill the entire glass
- a lime wedge for garnish
White rum gives the drink a light, clean base without overpowering the cola. The most common choice is Bacardi Carta Blanca, a light, dry rum with an alcohol content of 37.5%. Matusalem Platino and Chairman’s Reserve White Rum are also excellent choices. You can find more brands in our selection of white rums.
Cola makes up roughly two thirds of the drink, so choose one you also enjoy drinking on its own. If you want to try something different from ordinary supermarket cola, reach for premium cola from Hamburg-based fritz-kola. Buy a whole lime and squeeze the juice only just before mixing.
How to make a Cuba Libre step by step
The preparation is the same at home as it is in a bar, and all you need is a measuring cup and a bar spoon. You do not need a shaker.
Cuba Libre
Cuba Libre is a refreshing classic cocktail made with white rum, cola, and fresh lime juice. The lime balances the sweetness of the cola, enhances the rum, and adds a fresh citrus character to the drink.
Preparation Steps
- Step 1: Add ice: Fill the tall glass with ice cubes to the brim. More ice keeps the cola colder and fizzier for longer.
- Step 2: Add lime and rum: Pour 10 ml of freshly squeezed lime juice and 50 ml of white rum into the glass.
- Step 3: Top up with cola: Slowly pour 120 ml of chilled cola. Pour it down the side of the glass so the cola doesn't lose its bubbles.
- Step 4: Mix and garnish: Gently stir once or twice with a long spoon from the bottom up and garnish with a slice of lime.
The right rum-to-cola ratio
The official recipe uses 50 ml of rum to 120 ml of cola, which is roughly one part rum to two and a half parts cola. At this ratio, the rum remains clearly noticeable while the cola and lime do not get lost.
If you prefer a lighter drink, add a little more cola; if you prefer it stronger, use less. Keep the lime juice at 10 ml, however, otherwise you will upset the balance between acidity and sweetness. There is one more thing the ratio alone cannot fix: make sure all the ingredients are chilled. Warm cola melts the ice faster and loses its carbonation more quickly, so the drink becomes watery and flat before you finish it.
Which rum should you choose for a Cuba Libre?
A Cuba Libre traditionally calls for white rum, allowing both the cola and lime to stand out alongside it.
If you want a drink with Cuban roots, choose rum directly from Cuba. Havana Club Añejo 3 Años is aged for three years in bourbon barrels, yet it is still considered a white rum: charcoal filtration leaves only subtle golden highlights. You can find more bottles from the island among our Cuban rums.
If you want to take your Cuba Libre to an even higher flavour level, try the aged 3-year-old Doorly's White from Barbados or the high-ester white rum Hampden Estate Rum Fire, which combines an intense flavour with a powerful 63% ABV.
Do not use expensive, long-aged rums in a Cuba Libre. It would be a waste: their delicate flavours disappear in 120 ml of cola and are much better appreciated neat.
Rum for Cuba Libre
Cuba Libre variations
Once you have mastered the classic version, all you need to do is change the rum. The cola, lime, ice and quantities remain the same.
Cuba Libre with dark rum
Instead of white rum, use 50 ml of dark rum. The drink will be fuller and more pronounced, although it will no longer follow the official recipe.
Alcohol-free Cuba Libre
If you are driving, you can mix a drink using an alcohol-free rum alternative. Captain Morgan Spiced Gold Alcohol Free contains 0% alcohol and, according to the producer, is especially well suited to mixing with cola. You can also try Undone No.1 Not Rum, with the taste and aroma of real Jamaican rum. Use 50 ml instead of rum, add 120 ml of cola and 10 ml of lime juice. The method remains the same.
Where does the name Cuba Libre come from?
According to the most widely told version, the drink originated in Havana around 1900, shortly after the Spanish-American War, when cola arrived in Cuba together with American soldiers. The name refers to the slogan “¡Viva Cuba libre!” (Long live free Cuba!), used by Cubans fighting for independence from Spain. It cannot be reliably established who mixed the drink first. The story involving soldiers in Havana was later popularised through Bacardi advertising. You can learn more about how rum is made in Cuba and why it has such a strong reputation in our article Discover Cuba’s greatest treasures.
The most common mistakes when making a Cuba Libre
A flat or overly strong Cuba Libre is usually caused by one of these mistakes:
- No lime. Without it, you simply get rum and cola, which is sweeter and less refreshing than a Cuba Libre should be.
- Bottled juice instead of fresh lime. Bottled lime juice lacks the freshness of freshly squeezed lime and almost disappears next to the sweet cola.
- Pouring the rum by eye. Without measuring, it is easy to pour twice as much, leaving the drink tasting mostly of alcohol. Measure out 50 ml.
- Too little ice. If you use too little ice, it melts quickly and simply dilutes the drink. Instead of a full, fresh and concentrated flavour, you end up with a warm, watery drink.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How much alcohol is in a Cuba Libre?
Approximately 10% ABV before the ice begins to melt. Fifty millilitres of rum at 37.5% ABV contains just under 19 ml of pure alcohol, while the entire drink contains approximately 180 ml of liquid. As the ice melts, the strength decreases further. Cola significantly softens the taste of the alcohol, making Cuba Libre very easy to drink, so it is worth keeping track of how many you have.
Can lime be replaced with lemon?
Yes, lemon will add similar acidity. The classic recipe, however, calls for lime, so with lemon it will no longer be an original Cuba Libre. If you use lemon, stick to the same 10 ml of juice.
What glass is a Cuba Libre served in?
In a tall highball glass with enough room for plenty of ice and 180 ml of liquid. The ice helps keep the drink cold for longer. You can find suitable highball glasses in our glassware selection.
Can Cuba Libre be prepared in advance in a pitcher?
It is better not to. Cola quickly loses its carbonation in an open pitcher, while the ice dilutes the drink before it is even served. For several guests, chill the rum and cola in advance, squeeze the lime juice into a small container and mix the drinks one glass at a time.
Conclusion
All you need is 50 ml of white rum, 120 ml of chilled cola, 10 ml of fresh lime juice and a glass filled with ice. You can adjust the ratio to your taste over time, but do not leave out the lime.
You can find both white and dark rum for Cuba Libre in our rum selection. All that remains is chilled cola and fresh lime. Cheers, and enjoy responsibly.
