Cuba Libre, Orlando

[Hank Koestner]

There is a new restaurant/bar on International Drive in Orlando, called Cuba Libre. It features a menu of classic Cuban dishes, and many with a gourmet flare, and 75 rums on the bar. They advertise 15 different Mojitos, and say they use Cuban mint. I read a short magazine article today, and will visit the establishment soon for a better report.;)

[Rum Runner]

I'm interested to hear your take on this place Hank. It looks to be part of a chain.

Their website (http://www.cubalibrerestaurant.com/index.php) says that they are using Demerara Distillers Limited to supply their house rums.

They also say that they are crushing cane to make their own "guarapo" syrup for sweetening Mojitos. I noticed a number of the Mojitos they listed are made with flavored vodka!

The type of mint they are using..."hierba buena"..(or "yerba buena" down here) is a small leaf variety widespread in Latin America.

[VicZinc]

For some reason my store stoped carrying any Flor de Caсa except the 5. So I go up the street to the next store and they have only the 5 as well. But then this other label catches my eye.

El Dorado - Demerara Rum - Cuba Libre El Dorado 5 - 5year old rum. It turns out to be the private label rum from this restaurant chain you are writing about. On the back of the label it says "best enjoyed straight or on the rocks."

Now I know the regular ED5 actually says "great for cocktails" or something like that on the back. Plus - this stuff is call "cuba libre" which scream "add cola and lime to me"

Anyway it was $16 for the bottle and I needed something to drink and I was looking for some oak and I didn't want the FdC5 so...

I think it is just the same as the ED5 - oaky nose etc. I paid a premium because I only got 750 instead of the liter I would have gotten of regular ED5.

It's kind of a neat label but it has the cheapest aluminum screw cap I have ever seen. Seriously it is like foil - I was afraid I would crumble it when I took it off.

Thought you might want to know.