Cuba Libre Cocktail Recipe - Serious Eats

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Cuba Libre Cocktail Recipe

What a Cuba Libre cocktail really is (hint: it's more than just a rum and Coke), and how to make it.

By Michael Dietsch

Michael Dietsch Michael Dietsch is a barfly, boozehound, book hoarder, jazz fiend, and technographer. He has two cookbooks and writes about cocktails for Serious Eats. Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process Updated March 31, 2025 Save WRITE A REVIEW Print Close

20150622-3-ingredient-cocktail-cuba-libre-vicky-wasik.jpg — Photograph: Vicky Wasik

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You might think of the Cuba Libre as a simple rum and Coke, but there's more to it than just that.

The Cuba Libre originated, naturally, in Cuba, during a free-Cuba movement that sprung up just after the Spanish-American War. The Cuba Libre originally called for the juice of one lime in addition to the rum and the Coke, and the lime juice makes all the difference.

If you're only familiar with Rum and Coke as a sticky-sweet party drink, the lime-infused version may surprise you. The lime marries well with the rum, of course, but it also delightfully complements the flavors of Coke, and it provides just enough tartness to cut through the sweetness of the drink. Use a darker rum—a gold or an anejo—to further tamp down Coke's sweetness.

I like to drop the shell of half a lime into the serving glass and muddle the citrus oils from the skin into the cocktail. The oils add more tartness and a bit of extra complexity to the cocktail. You can certainly skip this step.

Recipe Details

Cuba Libre Cocktail Recipe

Prep 5 mins Active 5 mins Total 5 mins Serves 1 serving Save Print Keep Screen Awake

1 lime
2 ounces dark or anejo rum
Coca-Cola, or other cola

Squeeze a lime into a Collins or highball glass.
Drop half the spent lime shell into the glass and muddle the oils into the lime juice.
Add ice and rum. Top with cola and stir briefly.

Special Equipment

Citrus press

Rum
Lime

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
246	Calories
1g	Fat
33g	Carbs
1g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label ×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories	246
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g	1%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 33g	12%
Dietary Fiber 4g	13%
Total Sugars 21g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 39mg	195%
Calcium 46mg	4%
Iron 1mg	5%
Potassium 147mg	3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.