Bacardi Celebrates 150th Birthday
Bermuda’s Bacardi Limited, the world’s largest privately-owned spirits company, will be celebrating its 150th birthday in 2012 — promising this will be its most innovative year since the creation of its flagship rum in 1862.
Throughout the year, Bacardi will host one-of-a-kind birthday parties, launch special promotions featuring 100 years of ground-breaking advertising, introduce a $2,000 limited-edition decanter of rare Bacardi rum, offer travel retail exclusives and commemorative gifts, and much more for consumers to come together and share in the excitement.
“The passion and entrepreneurial spirit shown by my great-great grandfather in Santiago de Cuba a century and a half ago gave birth to exceptional rum that would change the spirits industry forever,” said Facundo L. Bacardi, Bacardi Limited chairman and fifth-generation Bacardi family member. “These qualities remain key to our phenomenal success and position today as the world’s favorite and most awarded rum brand, with more than 400 awards to date.”
Bacardi was founded in Santiago de Cuba on February 4, 1862, when Don Facundo Bacardi Masso purchased a small distillery.
After years of experimenting, Bacardi revolutionised the spirits industry by adding steps never before used in rum-making. He selected high quality blackstrap sugarcane molasses, isolated a special strain of yeast [still used today], filtered, mellowed his rums in American white oak barrels, and then blended them to create the perfect taste. The smooth, light-bodied spirit he created, as opposed to the harsh “fire water” of the time, was Bacardi — the world’s first premium rum and the first mixable rum — helping usher in a cocktail culture that thrives today. The artful Maestros de Ron [Master Blenders] continue to follow the same exacting standards set forth by Don Facundo.
“For the past 150 years, Bacardi–as a family, company and brand–has brought people together through legendary parties and great-tasting cocktails. Visit any bar, club or restaurant almost anywhere in the world, and the impact Bacardi has made on the spirits industry is crystal-clear,” said Bermuda-based Seamus McBride, Bacardi Limited president and CEO. “It’s incredible to see how a one-brand company founded 150 years ago has grown into the third-largest spirits company in the world with an enviable portfolio of iconic spirits including Grey Goose vodka, Bombay Sapphire gin, Dewar’s Blended Scotch whisky, Martini vermouth, EristoffF vodka and Cazadores 100% blue agave tequila.”
Bacardi 150th birthday parties around the world will feature award-winning musical talent, top celebrities and other movers and shakers who, alongside consumers, will wish Bacardi happy birthday.
Germany hosts the first Bacardi 150th party on January 28, followed by Canada starting February 1, and the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East starting February 4.
On February 4, “Rolling Stone” magazine will honor Bacardi in Indianapolis the day before the Superbowl, the most anticipated American football game in the US, with a “super” birthday party.
In addition, Bacardi is thrilled to be partnering with celebrities and trendsetters in cities around the world who will throw their own events to wish Bacardi rum happy birthday.
Founded in Santiago de Cuba on February 4, 1862 and family-owned for the past seven generations, Bacardi employs nearly 6,000 people, manufactures its brands at 27 facilities in 16 markets on four continents and sells in more than 150 countries. Bacardi Limited’s global headquarters is on Pitts Bay Road in Pembroke.
So when is the party in Bermuda?