There are several cities that are epicenters of classic cocktails: and Cuba is one of them! This country has originated some of the most well-known cocktails of all time. The nightlife scene in Havana in the early 1900’s was second to none, and you’ll find some of the greatest names in drink history bubbling up from this Caribbean island. Here are the top iconic Cuban cocktails to try! We’ll start with the most popular cocktails you know and love, then branch into some more unique mixed drinks. Whatever the case, this list of popular rum drinks has something for everyone!
And now…the most iconic Cuban cocktails!
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What other cities and countries have originated some of the best cocktails? Here are some of the top contenders outside of these Cuban cocktails: This classic cocktail is one of the greats. This recipe for the mojito is spot on perfection: not too sweet, bubbly, and minty fresh. Like the margarita, the true version has less sugar and more nuance than what it’s become in bars and pre-made mixes. Ingredients: Fresh mint, lime juice, white rum, simple syrup, soda water The modern daiquiri was thought to be invented by an American living and working in Cuba named Jennings Cox in 1896. Apparently he ran out of gin for the punch he was making and used plentiful rum instead. Since lemons weren’t available in Cuba, he used limes. The drink was a hit! But it’s possible the precursor to the daiquiri was even earlier: “grog” is a mix of lime juice, rum, and water that the British navy drank in the 1700’s. Ingredients: Lime juice, white rum, simple syrup Want a frozen daiquiri instead? Try Lime Frozen Daiquiri or Strawberry Daiquiri This drink originated in Cuba in the early 1900’s. “Cuba Libre” means “Free Cuba” in Spanish. It’s a rallying cry that came from the Spanish American war in 1898, calling for Cuban independence from Spain. The exact person who invented the Cuba Libre drink is unknown, but it became very popular in Cuba in the early 1900s and quickly spread to the US under the name “rum and coke.” Ingredients: Lime wedges, cola, aged rum The El Presidente was invented around 1910, named for the Cuban president: “El Presidente” means “the president” in Spanish. It was popular in Cuba in the 1920’s to the 1940’s, but is lesser known today: maybe because of the unique ingredients required to make it! Ingredients: Aged rum, vermouth blanc, orange liqueur (usually Curaçao), and grenadine In the 1920’s, Ernest Hemingway started making trips to Cuba. He fell in love with the daiquiri at a bar called El Floridita and started to ask for his own version: double the rum and no sugar, which the bar called Papa Doble. Apparently this was impossible to get anyone else to drink, so the bar decided to create a more palatable version in his name. The Hemingway daiquiri was born! Ingredients: White rum, grapefruit juice, lime juice, Maraschino liqueur Saunders is a bartending legend and creator of a few other modern classic cocktails, most notably the Gin Gin Mule (a Mojito and a Moscow Mule with gin). As you might guess, she’s known for re-inventing the classics. Once you sip one of her drinks, you’ll taste the genius of this modern classic.
5 Popular New Orleans Cocktails Some of the most famous cocktails come from The Big Easy! Try the Sazerac, Hurricane, La Louisiane and more.10 Italian Cocktails Worth Making Italy is also home to some of the most iconic classic cocktails! The Negroni, Americano, Aperol Spritz and Bellini all hail from Italy.
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Looking for more cocktails outside of these Cuban cocktails? Here are some of our favorite collections: No reviews
Classics: Try Sour Cocktails, Classic Cocktails, or Great Cocktail Recipes.Easy: These 10 Easy Mixed Drinks have 2 to 3 ingredients.The Big 5: These drink lists all feature the top 5 most popular alcohols: Gin Cocktails, Vodka Cocktails, Whiskey Cocktails, Tequila Cocktails or Rum Cocktails.By Season: Try our Fall Drinks, Fall Cocktails, Winter Drinks, Holiday Drinks, or Summer Cocktails.By Ingredient: Try our cocktails with Cointreau, Amaretto, Wine, Cranberry, Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit, Pineapple, Campari, Vermouth, Coffee, or Orange Juice.
