Photos: World record for largest Cuba Libre now belongs to Calgary distillery
Diego Romero is presented with the official Guinness World Record plaque by adjudicator Claire Elise Stephens after the Romero Distilling Co.'s attempt to make the world's largest Cuba Libre at their distillery in Calgary on Thursday, July 7, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
The Cuba Libre has its historical roots in the Spanish-American War, but now Calgary can claim a part of the long and tasty legacy as one of the most drunk cocktails world wide.
The humble combination of rum and cola is a lot less humble when it comes in something a little larger than your average highball glass. Especially when that pour is 1,000 litres. Or the equivalent of more than 8,000 cocktails.
Romero Distilling Co. undertook the challenge to create the world’s largest Cuba Libre on July 7. Guinness World Record adjudicator Claire Elise Stephens, who flew to Calgary from New York for the task, declared it 500 litres larger than the previous world record.
“I can confirm the attempt was valid meaning that it fulfilled the rigorous guidelines for the vessel, hygienic preparation, the recipe and of course accurate measurement,” she said.
Romero co-founder Tomas Romero said that he was at a loss of words to describe the feat.
As part of the completion requirements for the world record, none of the mix used for Thursday’s world record attempt will go to waste. The Cuba Libre will be re-distilled, purified, and then canned.
Photos of the world record Cuba Libre
Diego and Tomas Romero hold up one of their bottles of rum during Romero Distilling Co.’s attempt to make the world’s largest Cuba Libre at their distillery in Calgary on Thursday, July 7, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYA normal-sized Cuba Libre is held up against Romero Distilling Co.’s attempt to make the world’s largest Cuba Libre at their distillery in Calgary on Thursday, July 7, 2022. Over 8,000 normal sized cocktails could be made from the same volume as the world record attempt. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYThe filling inches close to 1,000 litres as Romero Distilling Co.’s attempts to make the world’s largest Cuba Libre at their distillery in Calgary on Thursday, July 7, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYThe filling inches close to 1,000 litres as Romero Distilling Co.’s attempts to make the world’s largest Cuba Libre at their distillery in Calgary on Thursday, July 7, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYGuiness World Record adjudicator Claire Elise Stephens watches as the Romero Distilling Co.’s attempt to make the world’s largest Cuba Libre is measured at their distillery in Calgary on Thursday, July 7, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYDiego Romero, left, Tomas Romero, and Bret Hart pour in the final bit of rum into Romero Distilling Co.’s attempt to make the world’s largest Cuba Libre at their distillery in Calgary on Thursday, July 7, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARYDiego Romero is presented with the official Guinness World Record plaque by adjudicator Claire Elise Stephens after the Romero Distilling Co.’s attempt to make the world’s largest Cuba Libre at their distillery in Calgary on Thursday, July 7, 2022. ARYN TOOMBS / FOR LIVEWIRE CALGARY
