The Puerto Rico Rum-Clopedia tells the fascinating story of the island’s rum industry, from the time the first sugar plantation was established in 1515 to the emergence of new local brands in the 21st century.
As expected, Ron Bacardí is featured in this book because its history is closely tied to Puerto Rico.
In 1862, the original Bacardí distillery was founded in Santiago de Cuba by Spanish businessman Don Facundo Bacardí Massó. By the end of the 19th century, the rum’s reputation had grown, helping the company win many accolades, including a gold medal at the 1888 Exposición Universal de Barcelona.
As part of their international expansion, a production facility was set up in Puerto Rico and the first batch of Bacardí rum made in the island was produced in 1937. In 1958, the company purchased a 138-acre lot in the town of Cataño, creating a building complex former governor Luis Muñoz Marín called the “Cathedral of Rum”.
The Bacardí family left Cuba in 1960 after the revolutionary government led by Fidel Castro seized the company’s Cuban assets. They moved all their business operations out of Cuba, eventually establishing their global headquarters in Hamilton, Bermuda.
Today, about 85% of the global distillation of Bacardí rum takes place in Puerto Rico, making the Cataño site the largest premium rum distillery in the world.
One of the most popular recommendations for travelers coming to PR is Casa BACARDÍ, the visitor center inside the distillery campus. We went as local explorers to join the basic Legacy Tour, which - frankly - I found too short and not interesting enough for $40 per person.
To get the best value from the experience, rum lovers - especially if they’re passionate about the Bacardí brand - should upgrade to the Tasting Tour or the Mixology Class ($80 each) since they last a bit longer (75 minutes) and sound a lot more enjoyable.
Happy New Year!!
Yanira
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Another way to taste Ron Bacardí is at the Caribe Hilton, where you can order our national drink at the bar it was originally created.