Rum and Coke
Rum and Coke is a mixed drink made by combining rum and cola, usually served over ice and sometimes garnished with lime.
Rum: An alcoholic spirit distilled from sugarcane products such as molasses or sugarcane juice. Its sweetness, aroma, and strength form the drink’s alcoholic base.
Highball: A mixed drink made with a spirit and a larger proportion of a nonalcoholic mixer, usually served over ice. Rum and Coke is one example of this mixed-drink format.
Cuba Libre: A Cuban cocktail made with rum, cola, and lime juice or a lime wedge. Its lime and historical identity distinguish it from a basic Rum and Coke.
Light rum: A relatively pale rum, often lightly aged and filtered, with a milder flavor than many darker rums. Its restrained profile produces a familiar, relatively neutral version of the drink.
Cola: A carbonated soft drink flavored with ingredients such as citrus oils, vanilla, and spices. Its sweetness and carbonation dilute and flavor the rum.
Carbonation: The dissolution of carbon dioxide gas in a liquid, producing bubbles and a sharp sensation. Cola’s dissolved gas gives the drink its fizz and influences how it is poured.
Coca-Cola: A carbonated cola soft drink first sold in the United States in 1886. Its international spread made cola available as a rum mixer.
Dark rum: A dark-colored rum whose flavor often reflects aging, blending, or added coloring. Its fuller flavor can make the drink richer and more molasses-forward.
Lime: A small citrus fruit with acidic juice and aromatic peel. Its acidity can balance cola’s sweetness and rum’s richness.
Dilution: A reduction in a liquid’s concentration caused by adding another liquid. Melting ice lowers the drink’s alcohol concentration over time.