Everything You Need to Know About the Cuba Libre
The Cuba Libre may look like an ordinary Rum and Coke, but its origins are tied to Cuba's fight for independence from Spain and the Spanish-American War of 1898. Its name translates to "Free Cuba," a rallying cry for Cuban revolutionaries seeking to end Spanish colonial rule. Legend has it that in 1900, an American Army Signal Corps captain stationed in Havana ordered a mixture of Cuban rum, Coca-Cola, and fresh lime at a local bar. The combination caught on with his fellow soldiers, who reportedly raised their glasses with a toast of "¡Por Cuba Libre!" The name stuck, and the drink eventually spread around the world. What separates a proper Cuba Libre from a simple Rum and Coke is the addition of fresh lime, which cuts through the cola's sweetness and brings out the rum's character.
