Home » Recipes » Drinks » Cocktails » 19 BEST Cuban Cocktails: Visit The Origins Of The Frozen Daiquiri! 🍹

You’ve got to love these 19 Cuban cocktails because of the refreshing blends of rum, liquor, lemon juice, soda, aromatic herbs, and ice.

The tropical ingredients in these drinks are suitable for your weekday brunch, weeknight dinners, or casual get-togethers.

Some of these cocktails were already famous to most Cubans in the 20th century.

FUN FACT: When America prohibited booze during the holidays, they escaped to Cuba for their holiday shenanigans.

Havana, the largest city in Cuba, was the bustling city where people would merry-make their way into the night.

That said, it’s no surprise why Havana’s drinking culture has skyrocketed in fame within the area and its neighboring territories.

Most Cuban bartenders adapted some local ingredients infused with Cuban rum to create the most refreshing cocktails that give you a good zing.

And did you know that the frozen daiquiri originated from Cuba?

Cubans are the first to introduce blended drinks to make frozen cocktails.

Most think these cocktails didn’t exist before the Americans, which is further from the truth.

For instance, the El Presidente Cocktail was credited to an American bartender in 1920.

However, it was invented in 1915 by a Cuban cantinero.

So if you want to know the top Cuban cocktails, here are 19 drinks to try.

The #19 Cuban Breeze Cocktail is a must-try if you love mixing vodka, Amaretto, and pineapple juice.

1. Saoco Rum

The saoco tradition was originally due to the poverty in the country.

This cocktail would revolve around a few cheap ingredients like aguardiente, lime, sugar, honey, coconut water, and ice cubes, if any were available.

In recent years, the Saoco Rum has evolved to sophisticated perfection, using Havana Club 3 rum if available.

You may want to use the original Martinique swizzle stick for the best refreshing drink.

2. Mojito

This mojito drink that initially came from Cuba is recommended if you want a cocktail that will easily slide down your throat.

This drink offers a slightly sweet taste with a fizzy mint flavor profile, which you’ll love.

But be careful, though, since you won’t be able to taste the rum in this cocktail, making this a dangerously deceptive drink.

3. Cuba Libre

If you’re bored of your typical rum and coke cocktail, give it a good and punchy twist like this Cube Libre cocktail.

The Cuba Libre cocktail mainly uses white rum.

However, aged rum elevates the flavor profiles of this drink better because aged rum offers more complex flavors.

The taste has undertones of coconut, vanilla, caramel, citrus, and almond.

4. Classic Daiquiri

A classic daiquiri cocktail is a mixture of rum, lime juice, and simple syrup.

While daiquiri can come in various flavors, a Cuban drink is a classic daiquiri, which tastes like watered-down rum with a hint of sugar and lime.

Choose white or light rum for this Cuban-inspired daiquiri, with simple syrup and fresh lime juice, and put everything in a shaker.

And don’t forget the lime twist for the garnish to make it look pretty.

5. El Floridita

This interesting Cuban cocktail was inspired by the famous American novelist Ernest Hemingway.

This is a variation of the well-known classic daiquiri, also known as Ernest Hemingway, because of how he truly enjoyed this drink at the Floridita bar in Havana, Cuba.

You only need three ingredients to make this drink: white rum, lime, and Maraschino, a liqueur distilled from Marasca cherries.

6. Bumbo

If you like cinnamon or nutmeg, you’ll undeniably enjoy this Bumbo drink that is mixed with only a handful of ingredients and spices.

The taste is similar to a modern-day spicy rum cocktail.

Grab a few ounces of rum, water, sugar, and a few sprinkles of nutmeg to make this drink.

You may also replace nutmeg with a few dashes of cinnamon if you prefer.

7. Culto A La Vida

If you want a slightly bright cocktail, try the Culto A La Vida recipe.

You’ll love the fruity notes, caramel, and chocolate profiles of the dark rum, with its full-bodied texture and slight sweetness.

Plus, the bright and refreshing flavor of the cranberry juice will balance out the other ingredients in this drink.

You only need to put everything in a shaker, stir, and serve in a long glass with lime wedges.

8. Cubata Gin

Looking for something that will give you a right buzz while energizing you throughout the night?

This Cubata Gin cocktail recipe will make it worth your while.

You get just the proper caffeine fix from Coca-Cola that will balance the alcoholic percentage of the gin, which will zonk you out perfectly if you have one too many!

Combine the gin and lime juice in a shaker and pour into a chilled glass.

Finish it up with Coca-Cola and garnish with lime.

9. El Presidente

The El Presidente cocktail is a fantastic drink that pairs vermouth, grenadine, orange curacao, and light rum.

All these alcoholic beverages go well together when combined, which offers a good balance of flavors.

The outcome is a slightly sweet rum cocktail that is a delight to your palate.

10. Cojito

While the mojito can come in different flavors, depending on the fruits you add, like passion fruit mojito or pineapple mojito, this Cuban twist on the classic mojito is quite interesting.

The Cojito is a classic mojito with a twist.

It’s made by adding coconut that pairs well with lime, fizzy soda, and mint leaves.

The outcome is a refreshing and fragrant cocktail that will surely leave you wanting more.

11. Hotel Nacional

Here’s a fun fact.

Did you know that the Hotel Nacional was named after a bar in Havana, Cuba, that catered to the most famous people during its heyday?

And this cocktail drink is also a favorite because it’s perfectly boozy and dangerously sippable.

While its fruity profiles may turn some off, the perfect combination of the fresh fruit juice, rum, and pineapples makes this drink stand out.

12. Bacardi Ocho Old Cuban

Audrey Saunders, a legendary mixologist, invented the Old Cuban cocktail.

But this Bacardi Ocho Old Cuban cocktail is inspired by Bacardi Reserva Ocho dark rum.

It lets your tastebuds enjoy the marriage of prosecco and rum, making this drink a modern classic.

13. Ginger Mojito

You’ll never crave another refreshing drink for your summertime BBQ parties again, as this ginger mojito cocktail is one you’ll love to sip all day long.

The perfect blend of the spice of the ginger syrup combined with the mint and zesty lime is the perfect drink for the hottest patio days.

The key to making this drink special that will make all the ingredients pop is to use only fresh ingredients, not store-bought ones.

14. Piña Colada

Here’s another cocktail drink you can whip up in minutes, which is perfect when you’re having surprise guests over.

You’ll enjoy this cocktail’s sweet and bright goodness.

This cocktail only needs pineapple, lime, rum, and sugar syrup.

15. Old Cuban Cocktail

This is a must-try if you love the classic mojito and the French 75 drink.

Imagine a mojito cocktail topped with champagne, and you get a complex drink with subtle notes of vanilla, coconut, and the bitter taste from Angostura.

Overall, this Old Cuban cocktail gives off a minty fresh, and satisfying flavor that your palate will surely love.

16. Black Cuban

This is a simple twist on the old Cuban cocktail drink, with only one additional ingredient that makes it more refreshingly fiery.

Grab a Black Tears cacao and coffee spiced rum, combined with angostura orange bitters, lime cordial, black pepper, and sparkling wine.

17. Simple Havana Cocktail

Sometimes all you need is a simple Havana cocktail so you can lounge off in your swimwear at a beautiful beach somewhere.

Sip on this refreshing and vibrant Havana cocktail made with simple ingredients.

All you need is to mix white rum, orange juice, lime, and simple syrup in a shaker for 20 seconds.

Strain with ice cubes and garnish with an orange twist.

18. Canchánchara Cocktail

Cubans love their mojitos and daiquiris.

However, before those two popular cocktail drinks came the canchánchara cocktail.

Cubans love this drink featuring lime, honey, and Cuban rum like añejo rum.

Garnish with fresh sugarcane and lime wedge.

19. Cuban Breeze

This Cuban Breeze cocktail reminds you of the tropics because it’s as refreshing as possible.

Imagine sipping a mixed drink with all your favorite summertime ingredients like pineapple juice, vodka, and Amaretto.

This drink will quickly slip down your throat and take you to the Caribbean in no time.

The bottom line

There is nothing like an excellent Cuban cocktail drink that will kick off your casual get-together with friends and family.

Try these easy and quick recipes for your next weekday late-night dinners or weeknight events.

Better yet, start ordering some of these 19 Cuban cocktails from the bar menu for a change!