Cuba Libre Enhanced
There's room to improve this classic cocktail. With gin and bitters.
Cuba Libre? Sure, a fancy name for rum and cola. We're giving the cocktail a little fine-tuning in this recipe. Don't worry, though: you can always stick with the basic version, which is already delicious.
Ingredients
-
50 ml
White rum
-
140 ml
Cola
-
handful
Ice
-
to garnish
Lime wedge
-
3 dash
Angostura bitters
-
15 ml
Gin
Steps to make the drink
- Fill your glass with ice cubes.
- Squeeze the lime wedges with the peel facing down so the essential oils go into the glass. Add the lime peels to the glass, too.
- Add the rum.
- Optional extra: add the 3 dashes of Angostura bitters and the gin to the glass.
- Top up with cola until the glass is four-fifths full, then stir gently for 2 turns.
- Add a little more ice.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
- Cheers!
Legend has it that the cocktail came about towards the end of the Spanish-American War, fought in part over control of Cuba. The Americans stationed there mixed the usual drink or shot of rum with a little freshly squeezed lime with the Coke they'd brought along. Simple, but a very good idea. The cocktail's name comes from the toast to Cuba's liberation.
Fine-tuning for more flavour
While researching fresh takes on classic cocktails, an idea from Leandro DiMonriva made it into the playlist. We're not making our own cola syrup as he does, but his idea of adding Angostura bitters and a little gin gives the drink its own twist and works beautifully to adjust the sweetness, too. You can make a regular Cuba Libre if you like. The experimenters can take it a step further. I'd really recommend that extra step. Let's get mixing!