The story starts with the Cuba Libre, born during the Spanish-American War in 1898. Legend states that a U.S. Army captain, in toast to Cuba's freedom, mixed rum, cola, and lime, shouting '¡Por Cuba Libre!' ('To a Free Cuba!') in a Havana bar. Like a forest fire, it became very popular among American troops and natives. Fast-forward to the 1990s, when Spanish bartenders, in search of a trendier name for rum-cola mixes, rechristened it 'Cubata'-especially if Añejo Rum was used. The name became synonymous with Spain's nightlife, from Madrid's tapas bars to Barcelona's clubs.
But the Cubata's roots run deeper. After Cuba's 1898 liberation, the original Cuba Libre symbolized newfound independence. By the 1920s, it went global, but purists argued lime was non-negotiable. Enter the Cubata: a 1990s Spanish twist, placing the emphasis on the complexity of aged rum. While Havana insists that the Cuba Libre is the best, Spain's version forged its own history, melding Caribbean history with Mediterranean flair. Fun fact: Teddy Roosevelt reportedly called the Cuba Libre 'the drink of freedom' during his Havana visit—though historians debate if he ever sipped one.
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