Cuban Rose Cocktail

Cuban Rose Cocktail

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The Cuban rose cocktail can be found in the "Cuban Concoctions" chapter of the "The Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book." It is one of the simple rum cocktails that were a smash hit in the early 20th century and it is a beautiful cocktail. The drink's appeal has not been lost over the years and you'll enjoy that familiar and delicious combination of orange juice and grenadine.

It's interesting that every cocktail in this section of the 1934 bartending guide lists "Bacardi" instead of "rum." It points to a time when the brand dominated the rum market, a status that it would hold for much of the century. There was also a certain fascination with Cuba among American drinkers at this time. During Prohibition, the island was a favorite retreat for those wishing to legally imbibe and a refuge for many U.S. bartenders who would otherwise have been out of work.

Where Bacardi may have been the preferred choice back then and used more as a generic term for all rum, today there are numerous white rum options to enjoy in cocktails like this.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces light rum

  • 3/4 ounce orange juice

  • 1 dash grenadine

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker, pour the rum, orange juice, and grenadine. Fill with ice.

  3. Shake well.

  4. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

  5. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • Though white rum is the preferred style for this drink, try it with an aged rum to give the drink a little more depth.
  • Fresh-squeezed orange juice is highly recommended. The average orange yields 2 to 3 ounces, so you'll have more than enough juice from a single fruit for a few cocktails.
  • Grenadine is easy to find at grocers and liquor stores as it's a popular syrup for a variety of drinks, including the tequila sunrise and Shirley Temple.
  • If you really enjoy cocktails sweetened with grenadine, consider making it from scratch. Homemade grenadine is as easy as creating a flavored syrup with pomegranate juice, though you can also use the fresh fruit when it's in season.

Recipe Variations

  • Though it won't have the "Cuban" touch, vodka and tequila are both great alternatives for this cocktail.
  • You can also give this drink the "sunrise" touch. Pour only the rum and orange juice in the shaker, strain the drink, then add the grenadine to the glass. It will sink and slowly integrate into the rest of the cocktail.

How Strong Is a Cuban Rose?

The Cuban rose is served as a very short drink—just under 3 ounces—and it is beautiful, but it packs a big punch. When made with 80-proof rum, it shakes up to 22 percent ABV (44 proof). That's average for drinks of this style, though it will quickly add up if you enjoy one too many.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
109 Calories
0g Fat
3g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 109
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 3g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 12mg 58%
Calcium 3mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 48mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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