Distillery Visit- "Bacardi Distillery"

The Bacardi Distillery in San Juan, Puerto Rico

During Spring Break 2012, a group of us went and toured the Bacardi Distillery in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  We all learned a lot about the products, history, and the process of making the #1 selling rum company in the world.

The founder of the company, Facundo Bacardí Massó, immigrated to Cuba from Spain in the early-mid 1800s.  In Cuba, he began practicing different techniques to produce rum.  At this time, rum was not considered a refined or cultured drink; he wanted to change this stereotype.  During the production of rum in Cuba, the still that housed the production was infested with fruit bats in its rafters.  The wife of Facundo noticed these bats and she was the one that came up with the idea for the famous bat symbol for Bacardi.  After the years of prohibition, the plant opened in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Having a plant in Puerto Rico allowed for the rum to be sold tariff-free in the United States.   Today, there are no longer any ties between Cuba and Bacardi. 

The famous symbol of Bacardi featuring a bat.

When we first got to the grounds of the distillery, we were able to taste a few of their products.  I tried a few of the flavored rums including Bacardi Razz.  I also tried a traditional daiquiri made from Bacardi rum.  Lastly, I tried the new spiced rum.  My favorite drink was the traditional daiquiri- it was very refreshing and delicious.

This was the Bacardi Razz mixed with sprite.

 The company is privately owned and operated still today.  The grounds of this distillery were well-kept and it was really beautiful.  The grounds had a bar, museum, gift shop, and the "factory" where the distillation process actually takes place. 

This is where the bar was at.

The beautiful grounds of the Bacardi Distillery.

The "factory" where the distillation process takes place.

The next stop of the tour was in the museum.  In this building, we were giving the history of the Bacardi family and product, what the processes look like, the changes in the processes over time, and we were able to smell the different types of rum products.  There were models of what the distillation process looked like in the 1800s and it is crazy how things have changed due to technological advances.  There was also a room that housed original documents and pictures of the founders of Bacardi. Because of rules at the distillery, we were unable to take pictures in some parts of this building. 

This is the museum building where most of the tour took place.

The lobby was one of the only places where we could take photographs.

Yay for Boyer's wine students visiting San Juan!

The group of friends that came to learn about Bacardi.

At the end of the tour, there was another bar where we were taught how to make certain traditional Bacardi drinks including the mojito, daiquiri, and rum and coke and which rums to use for those drinks. 

The bar where we were taught how to make traditional rum drinks

Once the tour ended, we were having some fun taking pictures.  This was a great experience and the first distillery that I have ever been to.  I learned a lot about the history and the processes and I can not wait to tour another one soon!

We want all this rum!