Classic cocktail · Guided recipe

Cuba Libre

A Cuba Libre is rum and cola done properly: fresh lime juice turns a basic mixer drink into a real cocktail. It takes two minutes and needs nothing but a tall glass.

Preparation~2 minSuper easyStrengthMediumabout 12% ABVMethodBuilt in glass6 guided stepsIngredients3Tall (highball) glass

Highball

In the glassWhite rum · Fresh lime juice · Cola

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Make it with guidanceOne clear action at a time, with timers built in.

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What goes in

Ingredients

An empty clear highball glass with tall straight sides and a substantial base. — Serving glassHighball glass

Set up before you pour

Use a highball glass.

The tall, straight shape leaves room for plenty of ice and mixer while keeping a long drink lively.

Standard size: 350 ml11¾ oz
Ice & serve: Fill it with fresh ice cubes.
If you don’t own one: Use a Collins glass or any tall, straight-sided tumbler.

Tools to set out

jigger or measuring spoon

Compare all glass types

Scale to your tall (highball) glassWe’ll remember this glass size.

White rum60 ml
Cola120 ml
Fresh lime juice15 ml

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From bottle to glass

Method

01
Ice the glass
Fill a tall glass with ice
02
Measure and pour
Pour 60 ml white rum
- White rum
03
Measure and pour
Add 15 ml fresh lime juice
- Fresh lime juice
Why it mattersThe lime is what makes it a Cuba Libre and not just rum and coke — don’t skip it.
04
Top gently
Top with cola
- Cola
Why it mattersCold cola from the fridge — warm mixer melts your ice instantly.
05
Stir around the ice
Stir gently once to mix
06
Finish the drink
Finish it — add a lime wedge and a straw

Know your drink

About the Cuba Libre

A Daiquiri, minty rum highball and dark rum rocks drink at a sunset terrace bar.

"Por Cuba libre!"

The drink’s name — "Free Cuba" — was the rallying cry of Cuban independence. The popular story sets its birth in Havana around 1900, just after the Spanish–American War, when American soldiers mixed their new Coca-Cola with local rum and lime and toasted the cause. Two ingredients from opposite shores, and a squeeze of lime to make peace between them.

Common questions

Cuba Libre FAQ

What is the difference between a Cuba libre and rum and coke?

Fresh lime — juice squeezed in and the spent shell dropped into the glass. It sounds trivial, but the acidity cuts the cola’s sweetness and lifts the rum. A rum and coke is a mixer drink; a Cuba libre is a cocktail.

What rum should I use in a Cuba libre?

A golden or lightly aged rum stands up to cola better than white rum, which tends to disappear. Traditionalists reach for a Cuban-style rum; any clean 3-year-old gold rum shines here.

What ingredients are in a Cuba Libre?

A classic Cuba Libre calls for 60 ml (2 oz) White rum, 15 ml (0.5 oz) Fresh lime juice, 120 ml (4 oz) Cola. That single-serve spec scales cleanly — the recipe above converts it to oz and multiplies it for 2–4 drinks.

How strong is a Cuba Libre?

A standard Cuba Libre is roughly 12% ABV once mixed (before ice melt softens it further). That makes it about as strong as a glass of wine.

Is a Cuba Libre shaken or stirred?

A Cuba Libre is built directly in the glass over ice — no shaker required. Add the ingredients in order and give it a brief, gentle stir.

What glass do you serve a Cuba Libre in?

Serve a Cuba Libre in a highball (tall) glass, over fresh ice cubes.

How many calories are in a Cuba Libre?

One Cuba Libre has approximately 180 calories, estimated from the standard spec above. Bigger pours, extra syrup or sweetened mixers raise that number quickly.

Sharpen the technique