Watch: How to make an elevated Cuba Libre cocktail

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If you want to make your own cocktails this summer, Noel Cymone Walker (host of theGrio’s travel series ‘Traveling Black’) learned a quick recipe for an elevated Cuba Libre cocktail during her visit to Miami. Try this with your friends this summer!

Check out the full transcription of the conversation with SLS Hotel bartender, Ricardo Shargel below.

Noel Cymone Walker: So today we are at SLS Hotel, South Beach, and this is really the heart of South Beach, really the heart of Miami, because you know, you have the beach, you have the Caribbean vibes, the Latin vibes. I mean you walk down the street, all you see is Cuban restaurants, Venezuelan restaurants and it’s so fun and.

Walker: I’ll be doing a cocktail class here today. What will we be making today?

Ricardo Shargel: We’re going to make elevated Cuba Libre. It’s a drink inspired by the Cuban independence in the year 1900. And as a celebration for their independence, they decided to mix the local rum, which was Bacardi at the time, Coca-Cola and a squeeze of lime. And that’s what they toasted for the Cuban independence.

Walker: I did not know that.

Shargel: It was the beginning of a worldwide phenomenon, I guess.

Walker: Yeah, because rum and Coke is like a signature drink.

Shargel: Everywhere.

Walker: Everywhere.

Shargel: You can get it everywhere.

Walker: All right, so how do we do that?

Shargel: So we’re going to do some cinnamon and some star anise. Citrus elements.

Shargel: We’ll get a lime wheel in there, lemon wheel. Give it a little more color.

Walker: I’m loving this already. I love lime, lemon and cinnamon.

Shargel: Right?

Walker: Do a detox drink like that.

Shargel: Oh, really?

Shargel: And then for the final touch. Here’s one for you.

Walker: You have a good bottle. I don’t even see the glass bottles anymore.

Shargel: These are Mexican coats. So they’re. They’re the closest to the original recipe. Has real sugar. No high fructose corn sirup.

Walker: Really?

Shargel: You pay a little extra for that kind of action though.

Walker: But I love this. Yeah.

Shargel: So you pour a little bit.

Walker: That’s it?

Shargel: Yeah. And then you just look the person in the eye. Cheers.

Walker: Cheers.

Check out the video above.

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