The story behind Bacardi by Rum blogger Paw Sørensen

BACARDÍ The story today will be about a rum brand that is probably known to everyone in one way or another

Post by Paw Sørensen
The founder of Bacardi is Don Facundo, and he experimented a lot with the distillation process before perfecting it and officially founding the Bacardi rum company on February 4, 1862 in Santiago de Cuba. This year marks 160 years since bacardi was born, but today it is located in Puerto Rico. And the reason for that is the Cuban Revolution and what it brought with it. Shortly before, on October 14, 1960, revolutionary government forces illegally confiscated all Bacardí operations and assets in Cuba without compensation. Many of the Bacardí family had already fled Cuba into exile, but not before deftly moving Bacardi Rome's precious yeast strain and trademark out of the country. Don Facundo's son planted a coconut palm tree at the original Bacardi distillery on February 4, 1862 in Santiago de Cuba. El Coco was more than just a coconut palm. El Coco became a symbol of the family's strength and resilience, taking everything Mother Nature threw their way. A distillery fire in 1880, five earthquakes in 1903, 1906, 1914, 1932 and 1947 and of course many hurricanes. This resilience carried the El Coco prediction, " Bacardi the company will survive in Cuba as long as the coconut palm lives."

The prophecy of El Coco lives on today and in all Bacardi locations around the world, palm trees are planted to represent El Coco. Sadly, the original El Coco died 2 years short of its 100th birthday. It was Don Facundo's wife, Dona Amalia, who suggested the bat as Bacardi Rome's iconic logo. The bat was discovered at the distillery and was recognized as a good omen. But why, because bats represented good health, fortune and family unity in Spain, Don Facundo's homeland. And for the Taino, the indigenous people of Cuba, the bat represented the guardian of all cultural goods. To celebrate Don Facundo's Spanish heritage and his dream in Cuba, Dona Amalia proposed the bat as the symbol of Bacardi. And without realizing it, it turned out to be a stroke of genius. Many people at this time in Cuba were unable to read or write, so the bat became an iconic and recognizable symbol when people started asking for 'El Ron del Muricielago' aka 'The Rum of the Bat'.
The rum I am referring to in this case is one of many from Bacardi. Unfortunately, it is probably seen as a neutral and thin rum, which in a way I do not think is completely fair to the rum, personally I like it and would say that it is a really good beginner rum, as it does not overwhelm you with too many notes of 1000 things that you do not catch anyway, It is Bacardi Gran Reserve Dies in question:

Bacardi Gran Reserve Dies:
The nose should catch almond and peach. The taste contains notes of banana, pear and vanilla. As the aftertaste begins to emerge, pineapple and cinnamon come into play. The conclusion on this rum of a personal nature must be that when everything is taken into account, appearance, taste and aftertaste. It is actually quite an excellent rum, so enjoy the ride.