During the time I was touring the east side of Puerto Rico we(The DAN Reps and I) where able to make a quick stop at Casa Bacardi for a quick visit and get a few bottles, for which I took full advantage of the opportunity and picked up 5 bottles total including 4 that aren’t available outside of Puerto Rico that will be shipped home in the coming days to add to the other bottles of rum I have in my collection from around the world. I wasn’t able to get to take the factory tour but I will do that before I leave Puerto Rico, plus it will give me a chance to pick up a few more bottles for my person collection
.The History of Bacardi
After years as a successful wine merchant, Don Facundo Bacardi turns to his true passion – the Cuban national drink – rum.
Don Facundo began experimenting with every step of the rum production process. After many years of cataloguing his work as a scientist and testing the methodology, he civilized rum as we know it today - creating a white rum of unknown lightness. His vision: to create the worlds first light rum.
Don Facundo's revolution in rum production liberated Cuban rum, introducing it as a new discovery to Cuban society. Don Facundo's company then receives the title, "Los Maestros del Ron" - The Masters of Rum.
On the 4th of February 1862, Don Facundo Bacardi purchases his first distillery near the port of Santiago de Cuba. The foundation stone of the BACARDI name is laid. When Doña Amalia, his wife, first entered the distillery, she noticed a colony of fruit bats hanging from the rafters. She recognized that the bats were popularly thought to bring good health, fortune, and family unity.
Don Facundo decided to employ the Bat as his trademark; thus making his rums known as "El Ron del Murciélago" or, The Rum of the Bat. In 1863 the BACARDI Bat Device becomes the registered trademark for all BACARDI products. The Bat
When Don Facundo passed away in 1877, the company passed into the hands of his three sons, Facundo, Emilio and José. The three of them lead it successfully through the proceeding decades, then assigned it to their sons and other family members.
Today the company is run by the seventh generation of Bacardis. More than 400 family members are working for BACARDI rum worldwide.
Close to the end of the 19th century, after the Cuban War of Independence from the Spanish crown, two of the world's most famous cocktails were created – inspired by BACARDI rum. The legend of the Original Cuba Libre reports that one day, American soldiers and Cuban freedom-fighters came together to celebrate their mutual victory. What was closer than combining the famous beverages of both countries – BACARDI rum and Coca-Cola - to toast to a liberated Cuba – Viva Cuba Libre!
The famous Daiquiri was created in 1896, when the American mining engineer Jennings S. Cox had the idea to combine BACARDI Carta Blanca with fresh lime juice. Originally created to bring refreshing relief to his workers from the hot tropical sun, the drink was officially named after the Cuban mining town and became a legendary cocktail.
In 1960, after the illegal confiscation of the Cuban assets of Compañía Ron Bacardi S.A. by the totalitarian Cuban regime, the family left Cuba as exiles. The Bacardi's, with their entrepreneurial instinct, dedicated themselves to reconstructing the Bacardi Company.
As the company expanded into various countries around the world, a member of the Bacardi family was always present to ensure that Don Facundo Bacardi's original charcoal mellowing and aging techniques were strictly followed.
After six generations of Don Facundo's descendants being directly involved in the business, Bacardi takes pride in its position as the producer of "The World's Great Rums Since 1862".
ll BACARDI rums have one thing in common - their excellent quality. Besides those products available for the open market, there have always been special blends which were reserved only for family members.
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Bacardi Ron 8 Anos: Is one of these special blends is a premium dark rum from BACARDI that is aged for 8 years in small mature oak casks to develop into one of the world's most exquisitely smooth rums - BACARDI 8. After aging it is carefully blended to perfection featuring notes of prunes, apricots, nutmeg, and vanilla over a clean woody background of oak. Its taste is smooth, rich and very full with a long expansive finish. Only since 1997 has this superior rum been available for connoisseurs outside the family. For those who know the difference.
Bacardi Select: is on the same level as the Oro but is distilled different then the Oro in that it is distilled in Oak barrels where the Oro is distilled in copper standing stills. Both rums are very smooth and mellow.
Bacardi Gold (Oro): This rum is not to be confused with the Bacardi Anejo (which is made in Mexico, and aged for six years) or Amber that is available in the lower 48, as those are ones made for export. This rum is amber in color, mellow and smooth, with the impressions
Bacardi Reserva: This rum is similar to the ron 8 anos, but is made in smaller batches, and is not blended like the 8 is so that the flavor in one bottle may slightly be different from another, but vary similar. The last aging step is done in charred American oak barrels and then filtered before bottling.
Bacardi Reserva Limitada – this is the top of all Bacardi rums as it is a single cask reserve, which means it make in small batches so the quality is top notch as the process from start to finish is done by a bacardi family member and master distiller . This is only available at Casa Bacardi, and I believe I saw a label with S/N on it and the numbers where really low (the two I saw had numbers 983, and 1005) so there is not to many bottles out there.
At the world beverage competition in 2006 Reserva Limitada was given a silver medal for dark liquors
Besides the select products listed above that are not exported to the US, these rums are also available. This is a listing of the products available , but at this time im not sure of the export status of each, for the most part they are available but not all. I will check and post back.
Bacardi 151
Bacardi Silver
Bacardi Anejo
Bacardi Amber
Bacardi Limon
Bacardi O
Bacardi Peach Red
Bacardi Razz
Bacardi Grand Melon
Bacardi Big Apple
Bacardi Coconut
I can get a majority of the Bacardi Product line (along with other brands as well, but not at casa bacardi) at Casa Bacardi and from local suppliers at prices that are lower then what they are sold for in the continental 48. (IE a bottle of bacardi silver is around 18-22 in the 48 depending on location, while down here its around 14). So if you would be interested getting some of the Bacardi Rums that aren’t available in the states I can arrange to ship them to you for your collection and/or enjoyment, but please contact me via PM or post here and I will contact you
Then for those that are looking for other traditional Puerto Rican liquors or alchoals (see list of rums available below) I can get you a list of others that are available and see if they are shipped out side of PR, but be aware that some are not exported at all as Puerto Ricans love there rum and production runs don’t last long for export. Then im sorry any over proof rums cant be shipped as no carriers will accept them for transport due to flamability.
FYI Bacardi also owns the following brands as well
· Martini & Rossi
· Dewar's
· Bombay Saphire
· Cazadores
· Grey Goose
· 42 Below
· Drambuie
· DiSaronno
· B&B
Following local brands are also available
· DonQ (short for Don Quixote, the favorite character of one of the Serrallés family heirs)
· Captain Morgan
· Palo Viejo
· Boca Chica Rum
· Ron Llave
· Ron Castillo
· Ron del Barrilito
· Ron Rico
· Ron Cañita Cura'o (Extra Strength)
Tooth
I will post pictures of the 4 Bacardi Rums mentioned above later today.
