Cuba Libre from ‘Cuban Cocktails’
This week, we’re spotlighting recipes from Cuban Cocktails: 100 Classic and Modern Drinks by Ravi DeRossi, Jane Danger, and Alla Lapushchik of Cienfuegos (Sterling Epicure), a Cuban rum bar in New York’s East Village. Try making the recipe at home and let us know what you think!
Photograph by Gabi Porter
by Ravi DeRossi, Jane Danger, and Alla Lapushchik
Cuba Libre
Makes 1 drink
Serve in a highball glass
Rupert Grant — a calypso songwriter from the island of Trinidad better known by his nom de chanson, Lord Invader — originally penned the song “Rum and Coca-Cola” about American soldiers and their off-duty activities. The Andrews Sisters’ 1945 version of the song hit number one stateside and became so popular that it was removed from some jukeboxes to preserve the sanity of waitresses. That song brought the ingredients of the Cuba Libre to a broad audience, but the pedigree of the drink goes back much farther.
Note: Havana Club 3 Year Rum is great for making the Cuba Libre, but you can substitute Caña Brava Rum.
2 ounces white rum
5 ounces coca-cola
Lime juice to taste
Lime for garnish
Build in a highball glass with ice, and stir a few times with a barspoon. Garnish with lime wheel.
Reprinted with permission from Cuban Cocktails: 100 Classic and Modern Drinks by Ravi DeRossi, Jane Danger, and Alla Lapushchik of Cienfuegos (Sterling Epicure).
More cocktail recipes to try at home:
A Not-Too-Sweet Sparkly Spiked Cider for Fall
The Ultimate Bourbon Cocktail You’ve Never Heard of
Zombie Cocktails from ‘Tiki Drinks’
