Bundy & Cola
If Australia had a national highball, this would be it. Bundaberg Rum + Coca-Cola served over ice in a tall glass. Two ingredients, infinite serves at Aussie pubs every weekend. Here’s how to build it properly at home.
Ingredients
- 30ml Bundaberg UP Rum (the standard Under Proof)
- 120-150ml Coca-Cola, chilled
- Plenty of fresh ice cubes
- Garnish: a lime wedge (or a slice of fresh lemon)
Glass: A 425ml schooner glass or a 350ml highball. The schooner is the Aussie pub default; the highball is the home upgrade.
Method
- Fill the glass with fresh cubed ice (not crushed – crushed melts too fast).
- Pour 30ml of Bundaberg UP Rum over the ice.
- Top with chilled Coca-Cola, leaving 1cm at the top.
- Stir once with a long bar spoon to combine.
- Squeeze the lime wedge over the top and drop it in. The lime is what separates a Bundy & Cola from a Rum & Coke.
Why it works
Bundaberg UP Rum is sweeter and more caramel-forward than typical dark rums. Coca-Cola amplifies that caramel note (Coke is itself caramel-coloured and contains caramel flavor). The combination is more dessert-leaning than a Cuba Libre (which uses Bacardi white rum) – that’s why it’s the Aussie pub favorite.
The lime wedge isn’t optional. The acidity cuts through the rum-cola sweetness and lifts the drink from soft drink territory into actual cocktail territory.
Brand picks
Rum: Bundaberg UP Rum (Under Proof, 37 percent ABV) is canonical. Bundaberg OP Rum (Over Proof, 57 percent) makes a heavier, stronger version – cut to 20ml if using OP. Bundaberg Red is flavored and changes the drink entirely; skip it. Avoid white rum (Bacardi Superior) – that’s a Cuba Libre, not a Bundy & Cola.
Cola: Coca-Cola Original in the 375ml can or 600ml bottle. Glass-bottle Mexican Coke (Coca-Cola made with cane sugar) is the premium version – changes the drink noticeably for the better. Pepsi works but is sweeter and flatter; ginger ale is wrong here. Diet Coke and Coke Zero throw off the texture.
Ice: Big cubes, frozen with filtered water. Buy commercial-grade ice if you’re serving for a party – melts slow and stays clear.
Lime: Fresh lime, not bottled lime juice. The wedge is what makes the drink.
Variations
Bundy & Cola Long: Use a 600ml glass instead of a schooner. 45ml of Bundy, top with cola, more ice. The summer afternoon long-pour version.
Bundy & Coke Float: Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top after building the drink. Adult Aussie root beer float; surprisingly good.
Bundy & Dry: Same drink but with Schweppes Dry Ginger Ale instead of Coke. Lighter, drier, more “Mad Men” – good for those who find cola too sweet.
Bundy & Bitters: Add 3 dashes of Angostura bitters before topping with Coke. Adds spice complexity. Common in cocktail bars rebooting the classic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bundaberg Rum really that Australian?
Yes – Bundaberg Rum has been distilled in Bundaberg, Queensland since 1888. It’s made from molasses left over from the local sugar cane industry. The brand is owned by Diageo now but the distillery and the product are still in Queensland. It’s the most-sold rum in Australia.
What’s the difference between Bundy UP and Bundy OP?
Bundy UP (Under Proof) is 37 percent ABV – the standard pour. Bundy OP (Over Proof) is 57 percent ABV – heavier-hitting, traditionally used in cooking and stronger highballs. For a Bundy & Cola, UP at 30ml is the pub standard; OP at 20ml gives a similar strength but stronger flavor.
Is Bundy & Cola the same as Rum and Coke?
Different drinks. “Rum and Coke” usually means Bacardi white rum + Coke + lime – that’s a Cuba Libre, which is lighter and crisper. A Bundy & Cola uses Bundaberg dark Australian rum and is sweeter, heavier, and more caramel-forward. The character of the Bundy is the entire difference.
What’s the alcohol content?
About 8 percent ABV per serve – 30ml of 37 percent Bundy UP in 150ml of Coke. Stronger than a beer or cider, weaker than a wine. Standard pub measure delivers about 1.1 Australian standard drinks.
Can I make a Bundy & Cola without Bundaberg Rum?
You can substitute another dark or aged rum (Captain Morgan Original Spiced is closest) but it stops being a Bundy & Cola. The whole point is the Bundaberg-specific molasses-forward character. A “dark rum & Coke” with Captain Morgan is its own drink.
About the drink
The Bundy & Cola has been the Australian pub default since the late 1970s, when Bundaberg Rum’s marketing campaign locked it into Australian culture. The “Bundy R Bear” mascot, the “Bundy Country” slogan, and the relentless sponsorship of rugby league cemented the drink as the standard order at any country pub. Walk into any RSL, sports bar, or surf club in Queensland on a Saturday night and the most common order at the bar will be a Bundy & Cola, schooner.
More Like This
Other Australian classics: Spider, Long Tan Cocktail, Lamington Shot, and Snake Bite. For more rum highballs, see our Rum Cocktails collection.
