The Cuba Libre, the ubiquitous “Rum and Coke” with a squeeze of lime, is the ultimate highball of the people. The drink was created in the early 1900s when Coca-Cola was first imported into Cuba. Its origins are associated with the heavy US presence in the country following the Spanish-American war. The name translates to “Free Cuba” which was a slogan of the Cuban Independence movement. The drink became a staple in Cuba due to the pervasiveness of its ingredients. It spread quickly to the United States and during Prohibition, Coca-Cola became a favored mixer to disguise the taste of low-quality spirits.
Since the US embargo against Cuba began in 1960, rums sourced from other Caribbean nations have been used in the US market. Rums produced in former Spanish colonies—including Cuba, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, and Guatemala—typically share a distinct style. They are generally distilled to a very high proof from molasses using column stills, and are then aged in ex-Bourbon barrels. This process results in a light, crisp, easygoing flavor profile, often featuring notes of vanilla and caramel.
Ron del Barrilito 3 Star is a distinctive, incredibly smooth "Spanish Style" rum. Its complexity comes from a unique process: traditional distillation followed by aging for 6 to 10 years in Oloroso sherry-seasoned white oak barrels, which is then complemented by a unique fruit maceration. The rum's character—hints of caramel, tropical fruit, and toasted oak—is unique, combining the classic Spanish Caribbean character with rich fruit notes from the maceration.
Inspired by this rum, we selected Bittercube’s Trinity Bitters as the perfect complement. This is an aromatic bitters, similar to Angostura, Peychaud’s, and Boker’s, but with a unique profile. Unlike those, Trinity Bitters incorporates dried fruit and charred oak alongside traditional notes like vanilla and citrus. We appreciate these bitters because they are less spice-heavy, which allows them to enhance a spirit's complexity without overwhelming it.
To create the Cola reduction, we opted for Liber & Co.'s Sugarcane Kola Syrup. This versatile and distinct mixer incorporates African Kola nut, cinnamon, vanilla, and caramel. We highly suggest exploring Liber & Co.’s online recipe collection for more ways to use this syrup—the Margarita Negra, featuring Mezcal and coffee liqueur, is another standout cocktail!
Rum and Coke is refreshing, unpretentious and simple to make. But what happens when you take those same components of the classic and turn it into a slow-sipping and sophisticated Old Fashioned? We think our Cuba Libre Old Fashioned refines the drink by reducing the amount of sugar and dilution. We incorporate a high-quality and sippable rum with a Cola reduction. Then we compliment the spice of the cola with bitters. ¡Salud!
