Rum and Coke Recipe
Pouring the rum over ice before the cola keeps the drink from getting watered down too fast, and a full squeeze of fresh lime cuts through the sweetness of the cola so the rum doesn't get buried.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 5 min
- Servings
- 1
Ingredients
- 2 fl oz white or gold rum
- 4 fl oz cola
- 1/4 lime, cut into a wedge lime
- 1 cup ice cubes
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 377
- Protein
- 0g
- Carbs
- 49g
- Fat
- 0g
Based on the recipe as written, one serving. Recalculates if you swap an ingredient above. An estimate only, exact values depend on the specific ingredients used.
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Instructions
- 1Fill a highball glass to the top with ice cubes.
- 2Pour the rum over the ice.
- 3Top with the cola, filling the glass most of the way.
- 4Squeeze the lime wedge over the drink, then drop it in.
- 5Give the drink one or two stirs with a bar spoon to combine, and serve right away.
Tips & variations
- Use a dark or spiced rum instead of white rum for a richer, more molasses-forward version sometimes called a Cuba Libre if made with lime.
- A 2:3 rum-to-cola ratio is standard, but drop it to 1:2 for a stronger pour.
- Swap regular cola for Mexican cola made with cane sugar for a less syrupy, slightly sharper finish.
- For a lower-sugar version, use diet or zero-sugar cola; the flavor is close enough that most drinkers won't notice in a mixed drink.
Storage & reheating
This drink is meant to be mixed and served immediately; it does not store well since the ice dilutes and the cola loses its carbonation within an hour or so. Premix rum and lime juice in batches and refrigerate for up to 3 days, then add cola and ice fresh per glass.
Tips from the Tulo kitchen
- Chilling the cola in the fridge before pouring keeps it fizzier than pouring room-temperature soda over ice.
- Rimming the glass with a lime wedge before dropping it in adds a bit of aroma with every sip.
FAQ
What is the best rum for a rum and coke?
A mid-range white or gold rum, such as Bacardi or Havana Club, works well since its lighter flavor doesn't compete with the cola. Save aged, sipping rums for drinking neat.
What's the difference between a rum and coke and a Cuba Libre?
They're nearly identical; a Cuba Libre traditionally includes a squeeze of fresh lime, while a plain rum and coke sometimes skips it. Many bars now make them the same way.
How many calories are in a rum and coke?
A standard 2 oz rum, 4 oz cola pour comes to roughly 140-150 calories, mostly from the cola's sugar and the rum's alcohol content.
Can I make a rum and coke with diet cola?
Yes. Diet or zero-sugar cola cuts most of the calories and works fine flavor-wise, though the mouthfeel is slightly thinner than with regular cola.