There’s something to be said about the fast, easy, and highly refreshing two-ingredient cocktail. You know them by name…

Jack and Ginger.

Seven and Seven.

Gin and Tonic.

Vodka and Orange Juice.

Dark and Stormy.

Whisky and Soda.

And so many more!

Take a couple ounces of booze, add some ice, fill the glass to the rim with the mixer of your choice, and maybe even add a little garnish to pretty the whole thing up. That’s all you have to do to take two simple ingredients and transform them into something that will quench your thirst and chill you out ever so slightly.

One crowd pleasing, two ingredient cocktail that I didn’t mention was the Cuba Libre, aka the Rum and Coke. Rum, Coke or Pepsi Cola, ice, and a twist of lime. I don’t drink them often, but when I do, they rarely disappoint.

A little while ago, Pepsi released two sodas under their new 1893 label: an Original Cola and a Ginger Cola. Here’s what they have to say about it…

1893 from the makes of Pepsi-Cola is rewriting the history of refreshment with a bold combination of kola nuts, real sugar, and sparkling water to deliver a totally unexpected cola experience.

And here’s how you’re supposed to drink it…

Now I don’t know if they’re “rewriting” history with this new brand (it’s a sugary soda for god’s sake, not a cure for the common cold!), but when I tried their Ginger Cola on its own a few weeks ago, the first thought that popped into my head was, “I bet this would make a tasty Cuba Libre!”. So that’s exactly what I did a few nights ago, i.e. tried the Ginger Cola in a Cuba Libre. Here’s the recipe:

• 1.5 ounces of Facundo Neo Silver Rum
• 1893 Ginger Cola
• Ice
• Wedge of lime

When I had the Ginger Cola on its own, I really liked that sharp hit of ginger that comes through in the first few sips, but after awhile, the sugary sweetness takes over and the ginger spice gets a little lost. I liked it, but I didn’t love it.

Adding the ice, lime, and rum to the 1893 Ginger Cola was a very good move and it definitely increased this soda’s drinkability factor. While it tastes like a regular Cuba Libre at first, the addition of the ginger flavor turns this drink into some sort of a Cuba Libre / Dark and Stormy mash-up, i.e. sweet and refreshing with a spicy ginger tingle. This combination worked really well and I would definitely drink it again.