Friday Night Cocktails
A simple mix of rum and coke? Hardly! With mysterious origins, this popular drink is a favorite of many. Variations include:
The Cuba Pintada (“stained Cuba”) is one part rum with two parts club soda and just enough cola so that it tints the club soda.
The Cuba Campechana(“straightforward Cuba”) contains one part rum topped off with equal parts of club soda and cola. They are both popular refreshments, especially among young people.
A recent variation is the Coppertone which uses Malibu Rum (rum with a natural coconut extract) and Cherry Coke for the cola component. The resulting drink smells like suntan lotion and the name is an allusion to that.
Other recent variations are the Cuba Light made with rum and Diet Coke, and the Witch Doctor made with dark rum and Dr. Pepper.
Another variation of the Cuba Libre is the Cuban Missile Crisis. Compared to a normal Cuba Libre, it uses a higher proof rum, such as Bacardi 151 (75.5%).
A variation of the Cuba Libre popular in the West Indies is a “Hot” Cuba Libre which includes a splash of Caribbean hot sauce (e.g. Capt’n Sleepy’s Quintessential Habanero, or Matouk’s).
Some people substitute Cream Soda and spiced rum to create a bright gold drink, often referred to as a Midas.
Another recent variation is the Venezuela Libre, inspired by the increasing cooperation between the governments of Venezuela and Cuba. It has 1.5 ounces of Venezuelan White Rum, 1.5 ounces of Venezuelan Gold Rum, 3 ounces of lemon mix, 1 lemon wedge and a dash of angostura bitters, and diet cola in place of normal cola.
The Virgin Cuba Libre can be created by simply skipping the rum. 
Being Latino asks that you please drink responsibly!
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[...] on Tumblr The Cuba Libre holds a special place in my heart, and it’s not difficult to understand why. It’s quick, it’s [...]