The world’s most popular drink was born in a collision between the United States and Spain.

It happened during the Spanish-American War at the turn of the 18^th between 1895-1898 when Teddy Roosevelt, Rough Riders, and Americans in large numbers arrived in Cuba.

One afternoon, a group of off-duty soldiers from the U.S. Signal Corps were gathered in a bar in Old Havana.

Fausto Rodriguez, a young messenger, later recalled Captain John H. Russell came in and ordered Bacardi Gold rum and Coca-Cola on ice with a wedge of lime.

The captain drank the concoction with such pleasure that it sparked the interest of the soldiers around him.

They had the bartender prepare a round of the captain’s drink for them and the Bacardi, Coke and lime was an instant hit. As it does to this day, the drink united the crowd in a spirit of fun and good fellowship.

When they ordered another round, one soldier suggested that they toast ¡Por Cuba Libre! in celebration of the newly free Cuba.