Feisty Files: A Post About Bacardi

Puerto Rico! Supposedly it can party longer and harder than Mexico … having been to both places I have to disagree and agree at the same time. Here’s why… Mexican’s usually choose Tequila as their drink of choice while Puerto Ricans choose rum. Rum will make the party last longer, but it won’t necessarily make a party go harder. This all depends on how much you’re drinking of course.

Let’s start with the rums I got a chance to imbibe.

Don Q – Cool name, harsh on the pallet. It’s great for mixing, painful to take shots with.

Bacardi Reserva Limitada – Aged 12 years this is Bacardi’s call play to the big guys. Made smooth to sip on. Some say add a little water, but I say don’t. If you’re a whiskey, bourbon, or anything of the like type of drinker then this is for you. This is also only available for purchase in very few places in the world.

Ron de Barrilito 3 stars- I found it a little strong AT FIRST, but once you get that initial drink in it smooths right on out. It’s nothing like the Reserva Limitada, but it’s a nice sipper. It goes well in a coke mix too.

Beer - Medalla Light: The only Puerto Rican Beer I had a chance to have was the Medalla. I would akin it to Miller Lite, but slightly stronger taste, more hoppy. It’s not bad though for $10 for a 12 pack.

The Bacardi Distillery was pretty exciting, easy to get to, and free! Plus you got two free drinks of your Bacardi choice for free upon arrival!! My favorite part of course. After you get your tickets you have a few minutes to enjoy your two free drinks (they also have food and more drinks for purchase). After a little time goes by they load the group on the tram and the guide tells you a little bit about the bat statue you will ride past to get to the touring distillery, the first of MANY Bacardi bats you will encounter***. Once inside the touring building you will see something like this…

Once you move out of the main room they take you into a theater will you will watch the history of Bacardi and get to know the company better. Then they take you into another room with barrels, instructional vids, and more. After a few minutes in there you go into a large VIP bar room and a highly captivating bartender gives you the ins & outs of how to make Bacardi drinks.

Then the tram take you to the gift shop where you can purchase all sorts of exciting Bacardi drinks and memorabilia.

Once you’ve completed the tour the tram takes you back to the gift shop. The tours go from 9AM-4:30PM and last about an hour.

Here are some drink recipes:

Mojito- Mint leaves, ounce and a half of clear Bacardi, mash together, add soda, shake, pour and serve

Cuba Libre (AKA Free Cuba)- Bacardi & Coke

Daquari (there’s a fun story to this, but you’ll have to go on the tour to find out ;P)- Clear rum, lime juice, and soda on the rocks (be sure to shake it before you pour it)

(My own creation) Tropirican – Clear rum (Coconut rum works great), fruit punch, pineapple soda, and mango-peach juice. mmmm!

I have to say I did enjoy the rum, it went perfect with the cool, laid back, sunny, atmosphere. I did’t buy much from the shop except a bottle of Bacardi Coconut because I wanted to mix it up that night. ***Here’s how the bat came to be the icon of Bacardi. The creator of Bacardi, Facundo Bacardí Massó, bought a small distillery due to the growth in popularity of his rum. At the time he was looking for an icon to put on his product. That’s when his wife brought it to his attention that there were many many fruit bats in the newly purchased distillery … the rest is history…