There’s something special that makes a traditional rum and coke a Cuba Libre. (Hint: It’s not the lime!)
American intervention in Cuban affairs brought the world one of its most popular cocktails. “Cuba libre,” meaning “free Cuba” in Spanish, was a term that gained popularity during the Ten Years’ War (1868-1878), when poor Cubans and freed slaves rose against the Spanish crown for independence. But it was not until nearly two decades later, when the United States intervened in 1898 (Spanish-American War) and helped successfully liberate its neighbor, that the cocktail became a Cuban classic.
After six years as an American protectorate, the United States granted Cuba its independence in 1902, but Americans and their businesses continued to flood the tiny island. Companies like Coca-Cola imported thousands of barrels of its cola syrup almost immediately, serving expats their creature comforts from across the Florida Straits. Not long after, Cubans and Americans alike caught on to mixing the soda-pop with the island’s world-famous rum and a spritz of lime, toasting to a finally free Cuba, hence the name.
The drink’s popularity was revived during the Castro uprising in the 1950’s. But when he ousted American companies and nationalized their assets, Cubans substituted the cola with their state-fabricated version, Tu-kola, which, with the continued embargo, is what your Cuba Libre would be served with today. The lime adds the Cuban twist on an international go-to, a rum and coke, and serves as a reminder of its people’s dedication to freedom. A toast to a free Cuba!
