Monster Energy Cuba Libre

Flavor of Monster Energy Cuba Libre

When poured into a glass, it’s a rather bright brown. I had imagined the contents, coming from a black-and-red can, would have a darker color.

The scent has the distinctive cola flavor typical of cola gummies or other candy products. At this point, I didn’t particularly smell any lime. It gives me a bit of an unsettling feeling, haha.

Let’s give it a taste.

The first impression of the flavor is a very light, tart cola taste. It’s similar to the taste found in cola products other than Coca-Cola and Pepsi, not heavy but refreshing.

The initial impression when drinking it is definitely a cola flavor with strong tartness. However, after getting used to it, a refreshing, subtle sweetness fills the mouth, followed by a lingering tart aftertaste.

This tartness doesn’t have the sharp sting of lime, but instead, it’s a cola-like aftertaste. The can states, “A taste infused with plenty of lime,” but I don’t think it’s as lime-forward as it suggests.

Overall, the flavor is a bit hard to pin down—cola? Lime? A mix of both? It gives the impression of being somewhat in between, and I can understand why many might struggle to evaluate it. (；´∀｀)

Given the image of Monster Energy, one might expect a richer, more intense flavor. Some might find the lightness of the Cuba Libre unsatisfying. There’s definitely a gap between the can design and the taste inside.

Best Enjoyed with a Glass Full of Ice!

To drink the Cuba Libre in a more authentic way, I poured the chilled Cuba Libre into a glass full of ice!

When chilled this much, for better or worse, the off-flavors quickly disappear, and it becomes refreshing with a much clearer taste, with the cola flavor taking a backseat. The tartness remains, and the unique aroma of Cuba Libre comes through, making it enjoyable for its refreshing quality, regardless of the flavor (whether that’s good or bad, haha). I think adding a bit of lime would make it perfect. ( ´∀｀)b

In Japan’s muggy and uncomfortable rainy season and summer, Cuba Libre filled with ice might be just the right choice. (ｕ_ｕ*)

It’s unclear how it was intended to be consumed during development, but when thinking of the cocktail Cuba Libre, I think if the Monster Cuba Libre was a little darker, it would’ve made the ice and lime peel's green color stand out more. Though, most people wouldn’t enjoy it that way, but as a fan, I’d love to experience it that way... (^_^;)

Energy Ingredients of Monster Energy Cuba Libre

It contains 142mg of caffeine, 188mg of arginine, 291mg of ginseng, 103mg of carnitine, and guarana, among other ingredients. These are the standard energy ingredients for the Monster Energy series.

There is no lime juice in it. It would’ve been interesting if even 1% was included.

What is Cuba Libre?

The Monster Energy Cuba Libre reviewed here is inspired by the Cuba Libre cocktail. Note that Monster Energy Cuba Libre is a regular energy drink without alcohol.

The Cuba Libre cocktail, created with cola, Bacardi rum, and lime, became popular after Cuba’s independence in 1989. The name "Cuba Libre" came from shouting "Cuba Libre!" during a toast celebrating Cuba's independence.

Cuba Libre Can Design

The can is a striking black with a rough texture, differing from the original design, and features a bold red outline with a blacked-out Monster logo. Not having a red background makes it look amazing. It’s hard to find words other than “amazing” when seeing it, haha.

I wondered why the design had a lime flavor emphasis while the can was red... Could it be a nod to Bacardi or Havana Club, or maybe Coca-Cola's red? In my opinion, it’s probably to avoid clashing with the Monster original’s black-and-green design, which would have been hard to stand out in Japan with fewer design options. But anyway, I ended up thinking a lot about this, haha.

The intense red tab also gives a cool impression. Overall, I think the can scores far beyond expectations! The real product is even more impressive than I imagined before its release.

Japan’s Cuba Libre and America’s Cuba Lima

There was a product inspired by the Cuba Libre cocktail released in the U.S. called Monster Energy Cuba Lima. The product was discontinued in 2015, just a couple of years after its release.

Though the product was short-lived, it was a bit surprising that Japan introduced a similar flavor. It’s not exactly a flavor that makes you want to repeat drinking it, but it’s still notable that they introduced it as a regular product rather than a limited edition.

However, I think it was a good decision to name it Cuba Libre instead of the misleading "Cuba Lima," just like with the decision to call the coffee version “Coffee Monster” instead of sticking with the American version. It’s important to adjust things for the Japanese market in a way that’s easy to understand.

As for the design, I feel the U.S. version of Cuba Lima was better at recreating the image of a cocktail in a glass. So I thought maybe it would have been better to keep the 355ml size, use the Cuba Lima name, and stick with that design here in Japan. I also thought the black-and-red design looked cool, but it made me think in many different ways. Overall, I found it an interesting product. (●´ω｀●)

Although it’s planned to be a regular release, considering how the Coffee Monster ended prematurely, I think it might be wise to buy a few extra if you really like this flavor.

Cuba Libre Was Initially Sold with a Paper Topper

When Cuba Libre was first released, it came with a paper topper on the can. I secured two boxes of 24 cans from a convenience store, then bought 48 more on Amazon, but by then the paper toppers had been discontinued.

Cuba Libre???? pic.twitter.com/oIGmXCUrCi

— エナジー・ドリン君エナジードリンクマニア (@energydrinkun) April 23, 2018

The box for Cuba Libre had a label indicating an ongoing campaign with the paper topper included. After about a week, I didn’t expect to receive the stock without the topper, but it’s definitely something you’d want to keep. For new Monster Energy products and campaign items, I recommend securing at least one can as soon as they’re released.

Ongoing Speculation About Cuba Libre’s Discontinuation

There has been ongoing speculation about Cuba Libre’s discontinuation since its release. With each new product launch, I’ve seen tweets like “Is Cuba Libre being discontinued?” The release of the Super Cola in 2022, which also comes in a 355ml size, has led to increased attention on Cuba Libre’s future.

Everyone's Monster Energy Cuba Libre taste and ingredient opinions and ratings

夜ト。 ：2022年9月28日

★★★★

僕は子供なのですが、飲んだときに「お酒ってこんな感じなのかな」と思いました。つまり、エナジーっぽくないと思います。少し大人っぽいジュースのような感じでしょうかね。でも、普通に美味しいと思います。

H.curbler54 ：2022年11月25日

★★★★

スーパーコーラとは何か違う。こっちの方が爽やかな感じ。
ちなみに普通に飲んだあとライム果汁を入れて飲んでみたら激ウマでした！

Toritetsu8500 ：2023年3月 6日

★

めっちゃ美味しかったのにスーパーコーラのせいで生産終了になってしまったのは残念です。

long wood bow ：2023年9月18日

★★★★★

500ml缶のスーパーコーラ飲んでた頃は容器も違ってどっちでも良い感あったけど、通常缶が出て飲み比べたら圧倒的にこっちだったな...
賛否両論あったけど頑張った方だと思う...ぞねと違って安易に生産終了しないのは高評価

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