is white or dark rum better with coke

The rum and Coke is an unbelievably simple yet satisfying cocktail. Everything that you need to know about mixing this popular drink is right there in the name. That said, even the easiest of mixed drinks can be made just a little better (or worse) and deserves a bit more attention than it often receives.

At its most basic level, the rum and Coke will be as simple as a pour of your favorite rum in a tall glass filled with ice. Light rum is popular in this drink (like Bacardi), but dark rums can also be used. It is finished off with a cola (Coca-Cola is the soda of choice) and a lime wedge. As many drinkers can attest, however, it is easy to get a bad rum and Coke.

“The rum and Coke—aka Cuba Libre—can be considerably more than an entry-level cocktail. The key? Keep your ingredients in balance. Watch how much Coke you’re pouring and use a decent white rum for that tropical sugar cane flavor. Make sure everything is ice cold (even the glass) and don’t skimp on the lime wedge!” —Tom Macy

White or light rum, dark rum, and even spiced rum all work equally well; it’s up to your personal preferences which style you should go with. You might even try a combination of different types of rum: Using half light and half dark rum will produce a light, bright drink with vanilla and caramel notes on the finish.

What’s the Right Proportions for a Rum and Coke?

Where the rum and Coke often goes bad is the ratio of the two ingredients. It is such an easy drink that bartenders—pro and amateur alike—typically dismiss the need for a balance of flavors. This results in a drink that is either “burnt” with alcohol or too sweet with soda.

The problem comes to light when drinkers try to “fix” a bad rum and Coke. All too often, they feel that they ​didnt pour enough rum because they cant taste it, so they add another shot. Now they have a double shot of rum and, unless another splash of Coke is added, the drink is too strong. This is great if you want to get drunk, but not so good if you want to taste a good drink.

What are the best proportions for a rum and Coke? Typically, most drinkers will find a ratio of 1:2 or 1:3 to have the best flavor and much of that will depend on the rum you choose.

• The 1:2 pour creates a classically styled rum and Coke. To make this in the average 10-ounce highball glass, pour 2 ounces of rum and 4 ounces of Coke.
• The 1:3 pour is often preferred by modern drinkers because we tend to like drinks a little sweeter. This version would use 2 ounces of rum with 6 ounces of Coke.
• Dont worry that either of those pours will not fill the 10-ounce glass. You should have already filled your glass with ice, which will take up the rest of the volume; consider ice to be the rum and Cokes third ingredient.
• It is tempting to pour any old rum that is on the rail or well into a rum and Coke. The theory is that this is too simple of a drink and should not be used to waste a perfectly good shot of booze, so people tend to use the cheap stuff. Do yourself a favor and pour a rum you wouldnt mind drinking straight.
• White rums are the most popular base for rum and Coke, though you might also really enjoy it with an aged rum.
• We recommend putting the rum in the freezer for ultimate chill—that way the ice will melt slower.

• By rights, the rum and Coke is made with Coca-Cola, and this is what the bartender will give you at the bar. Some drinkers prefer Pepsi because it is a softer cola, and that is perfectly fine. Be sure to order a “rum and Pepsi” at the bar if this is your preference.
• You will notice a big difference between the Coke sold in the U.S. and the soda meant for other markets in the world that use real sugar. These make the Coke made with high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) pale in comparison. The demand for real-sugar Coke has made it easier to find in the U.S., so if you spot it, stock up.
• Other colas, particularly those designed specifically as mixers for cocktails (e.g., Q Kola, Fever-Tree Madagascan Cola, and Fenitmans Curiosity Cola), will improve this drink even more. Give them a try, especially if youre trying to avoid HFCS.
• Adding the juice from a lime will create a drink called the Cuba libre.

Steps to Make It

• Gather the ingredients. The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
• Pour the rum into a highball glass filled with ice. The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
• Top with cola. The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
• Garnish with a lime wedge. Serve and enjoy. The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

What is the BEST RUM for Rum & Coke?

FAQ

What kind of rum is best with Coke?

Is white rum or spiced rum better with Coke?

Is white or dark rum better for mixing?

Is Captain Morgan white rum good with Coke?

Does rum taste good with Cokes?

If you prefer your rum and Cokes to be ridiculously spicy and sweet, this is your jam. Otherwise, the spicy flavor is a little too dominant for this drink. This rum, from the US Virgin Islands, is a blend of rums that were aged in American oak barrels for between one and four years.

How much sugar is in rum?

Rum is made from boiled sugarcane juice, the molasses, through a process of fermentation and distillation. Fermentation will result in the transformation of existing sugars in the juice into ethyl alcohol, that way the rum does not contain sugar.

What’s the difference between rum and Coke?

It’s a wonderful choice for rum and coke because the two drinks feel like they’re boxing in the same weight class. This fine Jamaican rum is medium- to full-bodied with enough flavor to stand up and make itself known, while the cola’s dark sweetness asserts itself nicely against the tropical fruit notes of the spirit.

What is the best rum for a rum and Coke?

But if you’re shopping for it, here are a few tips: The best rum for a rum and coke? Aged rum! Aged rum aka golden rum is aged longer than white rum, giving it a depth in flavor. It can have notes of vanilla, coconut, almond, citrus, or caramel. The aged rum that we used here was Brugal Añejo Rum. White rum is traditionally used.