Distillery: Bacardi - San Juan, Puerto Rico

The Bacardi Distillery - San Juan, Puerto Rico

Bacardi Banner

Spring Break 2012 on the Carnival Liberty cruise ship was full of adventures, including a tour of the Bacardi Rum distillery in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We learned about the products, history, and process of forming the number one selling rum company in the world.

The founder of the company, Facundo Bacardí Massó, immigrated to Santiago de Cuba from Spain in 1830 and immediately set up business as a wine merchant and importer. Within a few years, he began to experiment with the distillation of rum. He wanted to change the stereotype that rum was not considered a refined or cultured drink.  During the production of rum in Cuba, the barn that housed the production was infested with fruit bats in its rafters.  When Facundo's wife noticed these bats, she had the idea for the famous bat logo for Bacardi.  After the years of prohibition, the plant re opened in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Having a plant in Puerto Rico allowed rum to be sold tax-free in the United States; there are no longer any ties between Cuba and Bacardi. 

entrance to museum tour.

Bat Symbol

Upon first arriving on the Bacardi ground we were presented with two drink tickets to be used at a beautiful outside bar, and time to browse through the Bacardi gift shop. With my two tickets, I tried Bacardi Raz, I think mixed with soda, and a rum and coke.

Covering to the outside bar which is an abstract architectural bat form. The gift shop is in the background.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After enjoying my two drinks with our group of seven, a trolly picked us up and transported us to the Bacardi Museum...

Lobby of Bacardi Museum

Wine Students!!!!

Unfortunately we were not allowed to take pictures inside of the museum, but it included a short video on the history and founding of Bacardi Rum and a beautiful recreation of the first distillery in Cuba started by Facundo Bacardí Massó. At the end of the tour, there was another bar with a tender who explained how to make traditional Bacardi drinks including the mojito, daiquiri, and rum and coke and which rums to use for those drinks.

I'll take them all!!!