Cuba Libre Recipe per Person

Cuba Libre Recipe Volume per Person

Few Caribbean long drinks are as recognizable as the Cuba Libre, and it goes together right in the highball glass over ice. Per serving you want 50 ml white rum + 120 ml Coca-Cola + juice of half a lime, given a light stir. To scale it for a party, multiply each ingredient by your guest count, then tack on roughly 15% to cover refills and what you lose to melting ice.

It dates to around 1900 in Havana, just after the Spanish-American War, when Coca-Cola first reached Cuba alongside US troops. The name means "Free Cuba" and marks the end of Spanish rule; bartenders still raise the old toast, "¡Por Cuba Libre!". The classic pour is a white rum like Bacardi Carta Blanca or Havana Club 3 Años. Swap in a dark rum and you have the "Cuba Libre Oscuro" variant.

Applications

It shows up constantly at Brazilian weddings, birthdays and big events, mostly because it costs little per glass and almost everyone likes it. A 1 L bottle of rum gets you about 20 drinks, while a 2 L bottle of Coca-Cola covers roughly 16 servings. Figure one lime for every three drinks. Whether you are pouring at a casual home bar or running an open bar for a large wedding, the math holds up.

FAQ

What is the difference between a Cuba Libre and a Rum & Coke? It comes down to the lime. Leave it out and you are drinking a plain Rum & Coke; add it and the juice cuts the sweetness, lending the cocktail the freshness it is known for.

Can I use Pepsi or Guaraná? Coca-Cola is what the original called for, though Pepsi does the job too. Guaraná is another story: it shifts the flavour profile so much that the result is not really a Cuba Libre anymore.

Should I use ice cubes or crushed ice? Go with large cubes. They melt slowly, so the drink keeps its strength. Crushed ice, on the other hand, waters the cocktail down within minutes.