This summer I am going to post a mixed drink series featuring some of my favourite Summer Cocktails, and I am going to start with one of my favourites, the Cuba Libre’.
It is generally believed that this rum based drink was first created in Havana, Cuba, in 1900 which makes a lot of sense as it was about the time that Coca Cola (the main mixing ingredient) was introduced upon the island. It is not a stretch to think that very soon after the soda drink was introduced, bartenders and rum enthusiasts, would be mixing rum and the new cola drink together.
As for the name, Cuba Libre’ can be translated to mean ‘Free Cuba’ which is said to refer to Cuba’s freedom from the Spanish Occupation which had been won just two years prior in 1898.
The simple Cuba Libre’ is a mixture of Coca Cola and Rum with a Squeeze of Lime. For the purposes of this posting I am going to use a new Black Strap Rum sent to me by the folks at the Last Straw Distillery located at 40 Pippin Rd. in Vaughan, Ontario. I will be reviewing this new rum in a few short weeks, but suffice it to say my initial tasting sessions have revealed a rum which although it is not dark, nonetheless contains a wonderful backdrop of black strap molasses flavour which pairs with Cola and Lime wonderfully.
Here is, the Cuba Libre’.
Cuba Libre’
(the classic Rum and Coke recipe)
1 1/2 oz. Last Straw Distillery Black Strap Rum
4 oz Coca Cola
Lime wedge
Ice Cubes
Rub the rim of a standard rocks glass or highball glass with lime
Squeeze the lime over the glass to release some juice into the drink and fill with the glass with ice
Add Rum and fill with Coca Cola
Drop in the lime wedge and stir
As with all of my cocktail suggestions, please enjoy responsibly!
If you are interested in more of my cocktail recipes, please click this link (Cocktails and Recipes) for more of my mixed drink recipes!
Flor de Caña
The Caroni Distillery in Trinidad and Tobago was established in 1918, and was operated at near full capacity until 1993. Unfortunately, due to industry consolidation, rum production at the facility began to decline late in the 20th century and the distillery was closed in 2002. As a matter of interest, the consolidation of the rum industry during the last two centuries is amply illustrated in Trinidad and Tobago where there this small country featured 50 distilleries at the turn of the 19th century. One hundred and fifty years later (in 1950) only 8 had survived, and today there is but one, Angostura. It seems a pity that so much tradition and history has vanished. Although I guess we can count ourselves lucky that some of the rum barrels from the Caroni distillery are still finding their way into the market place.
Cabot Tower is situated on Signal Hill in St. John’s, which is of course the capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador. Construction of this historic Canadian monument began in 1898 as the tower was built to commemorate the 400th anniversary of John Cabot’s discovery of Newfoundland, as well as to celebrate Her Majesty 
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