Cuba Libre cocktail in a highball

Cuba Libre Recipe

Rum and cola with a squeeze of lime. Better than it sounds.

White or dark rum
Base Spirit
~10%
Approx ABV
Easy
Difficulty
2 min
Prep Time
🥂 Highball 🧊 Cubed Sweet, tangy, easy

The Cuba Libre is rum and cola with fresh lime, and the lime is what lifts it above a plain mixer drink.

Ingredients

Makes
  • 50 ml White or dark rum
  • 120 ml Chilled cola
  • 10 ml Fresh lime juice

Garnish: Lime wedge

How to Make a Cuba Libre

  1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
  2. Add rum and lime juice.
  3. Top with chilled cola.
  4. Stir once, gently.
  5. Drop in a lime wedge.

Tips for a Better Cuba Libre

  • Squeeze the lime into the glass first, then drop the shell in.
  • Pour cola slowly to keep the fizz.

About the Cuba Libre

The Cuba Libre was born in Havana around 1900, shortly after the Spanish-American War. Coca-Cola arrived on the island with American troops and businesses and was soon being mixed with local rum and lime. The name comes from the independence toast "Por Cuba Libre", meaning "to a free Cuba".

One popular account, sworn in a 1965 affidavit by Fausto Rodriguez, says a US Army captain ordered the first one at a Havana bar in August 1900. Rodriguez later worked for Bacardi, which used the story in its advertising, so the details should be treated with caution.

What separates a Cuba Libre from a plain rum and cola is the lime. The juice cuts the sweetness of the cola, and the spent wedge goes into the glass. Rum and cola remains one of the most ordered mixed drinks in the world.

Cuba Libre Variations

  • Cubata: aged dark rum for a richer drink.
  • Spiced Rum and Cola: spiced rum adds vanilla and cinnamon.
  • Batanga: the Mexican cousin, with tequila, cola, lime and a salt rim.
  • Cuba Pintada: rum topped with soda water and only a splash of cola.
  • Old Monk and Cola: the classic Indian serve, made with dark, vanilla-heavy Old Monk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is in a Cuba Libre?

A Cuba Libre is made with 50ml (1.75 oz) white or dark rum, 120ml (4 oz) chilled cola and 10ml (2 tsp) fresh lime juice. It is served in a highball glass.

How strong is a Cuba Libre?

Made to this recipe, a Cuba Libre is about 10% ABV and contains roughly 16 g of pure alcohol. That is about 1.1 US standard drinks, 1.6 Australian standard drinks or 2.0 UK units. It has around 165 calories per serving.

What is the difference between a Cuba Libre and a rum and Coke?

Lime. A Cuba Libre always includes fresh lime juice, usually about 10ml, with the squeezed wedge dropped into the glass. Without lime it is simply a rum and cola.

What rum is best for a Cuba Libre?

A light white or gold rum is traditional. Dark rums such as Old Monk or Bacardi Black make a sweeter, heavier drink with more vanilla and caramel.

What is the ratio of rum to cola?

Use 1 part rum to 2 or 2.5 parts cola. This recipe is 50ml rum to 120ml cola with 10ml of lime juice.

What does Cuba Libre mean?

It means "free Cuba" in Spanish. It was a rallying cry during Cuba's war of independence from Spain in the 1890s.
Drink responsibly. The legal drinking age in India varies by state, from 18 to 25. Alcohol content shown is an estimate and changes with ice, dilution and the strength of the bottle you use. We do not sell alcohol.

About the Author

Shivam Sharma
Shivam Sharma
I am the founder and editor of The Spirit Atlas. With a deep appreciation for fine spirits, I built this platform to be the most helpful and honest spirits guide for Indian readers — covering everything from Scotch and Indian single malts to rum, gin and tequila, along with prices across every major Indian state. My goal is simple: to make the world of spirits a little more approachable for everyone.
Last updated: October 2026

Quick Facts

Type Classic
Base spirit White or dark rum
Glass Highball
Ice Cubed
Garnish Lime wedge
Approx ABV ~10%
Calories ~165 kcal
Difficulty Easy
Prep time 2 min

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