The History of Bacardi Rum: A Cuban Legacy

From a small distillery in Santiago de Cuba in 1862 to one of the most recognized spirits in the world — the story of Bacardi is the story of Cuba itself.

The history of rum tends to be an interesting one because sailors and seafarers favored this strong, sweet spirit during the Age of Exploration. Its varietals were transported across the world resulting in a wider range of flavor profiles and points of origin than any other spirit.

Bacardi is perhaps the most iconic rum in the Americas and is credited with creating such classic cocktails as the Cuba Libre (rum and Coca-Cola) and the daiquiri famously favored by Ernest Hemingway.

The Birth of an Icon

Founded by Spanish born Facundo Bacardí Massó, whose family immigrated to Cuba when he was 16, he eventually set about refining this spirit. Up until this point it had been made cheaply and was not considered to be a desirable drink.

He developed a proprietary strain of yeast giving Bacardi its clean flavor profile, filtered it through charcoal to remove impurities and aged the rum in white oak barrels to mellow it. This resulted in the first clear, or “white,” rum in the world.

Turbulent Times

Facundo eventually opened a small distillery with his brother-in-law, marking the beginning of Bacardi’s history. The years to follow were turbulent times for the citizens of Cuba, with the Cuban War of Independence in the 1880s and 1890s. Facundo’s eldest son, Emilio, was imprisoned and exiled for fighting in the rebel army against Spain.

A Loyal Fan: Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway moved to Cuba in 1939 and lived at Finca Vigia in the small town of San Francisco de Paulo, close to Havana. He spent much of his time at the Floridita Bar drinking daiquiris made of Bacardi.

His love for this cocktail lead him to immortalize them in his posthumous novel Islands in the Stream. Bacardi is also mentioned in To Have and Have Not, which takes place in Key West, and For Whom the Bell Tolls.

It Runs in the Family

It’s a fascinating history of a successful and industrious family business that became a world-renowned brand. At El Meson de Pepe, Bacardi is our rum of choice for signature mojitos and other tropical cocktails.