Best Rum for a Rum and Coke

Updated July 2026.

The IBA drink is the Cuba Libre: 50 ml white rum, 120 ml cola, and 10 ml fresh lime. Cola is 0.0% ABV. A US 1.5-ounce pour of 40% rum (Bacardi Superior on typical US bottles) is one NIAAA drink; the IBA 50 ml pour is about 1.13. Captain Morgan Original Spiced is 35% in the US — 0.88 drinks per 1.5 ounces. This is not a 2023 ranking of 15 rums.

Gold or aged rum at the same proof is the same ethanol, different color. Related: alcohol with Coke, Captain vs Bacardi, Bacardi.

Same mixer, different proof

Build Typical US ABV Drinks
IBA Cuba Libre (50 ml white rum) 40% ~1.13
1.5 oz Bacardi Superior + cola 40% 1.00
1.5 oz Captain Original Spiced + cola 35% US 0.88
2 oz 40% rum + cola 40% 1.33
Cola 0.0% 0

Four 2-ounce 40% rum-and-Cokes are about 5.3 drinks. NIAAA binge pattern is a health line, not a target. Hours to buy the bottle are state law. No invented MSRP. Pour math: rum drinks.

Sources

  • IBA Cuba Libre: 50 ml white rum, 120 ml cola, 10 ml lime.
  • Bacardi Superior US 40% (prior page). Captain Original Spiced US 35% (prior flag).
  • NIAAA December 2025. No 15-rum ranking or MSRP.

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