We were three for dinner, and it was one of those evenings when no one had any energy. What’s a good go-to cocktail for that situation? Well, the Cuba Libre, for one.

The Cuba Libre is a storied cocktail. It originates in Cuba, of course; Jamie Oliver calls it a “legacy” cocktail, and its creation is said to lie with Cuba’s winning of the Spanish–American War. Closer to home, this was my father’s favourite drink (although he tended to drink it without the lime much of the time, limes being relatively rare when I was growing up). It’s an easy cocktail, and popular — possibly one of the world’s most popular cocktails. In other words, it was high time to try this classic drink.

Here’s what we made.

• 1 tsp fresh lime juice
• 2 oz rum (we used an amber rum)
• 5 oz Coca-Cola (or to taste)

Pour the lime juice into the serving glass and add ice. Pour the rum over the ice, then top with cola; stir quickly. Garnish with lime.

The verdict: Yum. There’s a reason this is such a popular drink: rum and cola complement each other well, and the lime juice adds lovely sparkle to the drink. Very easy drinking! Enjoy!