Bacardi is one of the world's largest privately-held spirits companies, founded 158 years ago in Santiago de Cuba.
From our enviable portfolio of premium brands pre-eminently positioned in the spirits industry, to landmark structures that have won worldwide architectural acclaim, we have constructed our legacy on perseverance, quality, prestige, innovation and creativity.
Our exclusive emphasis on quality began in Santiago de Cuba where on February 4, 1862, Don Facundo Bacardí Massó purchased a small distillery and revolutionized rum making. After careful and systematic experimentation with a variety of ingredients, aging and blends, Don Facundo created a new, smooth, light-bodied spirit - BACARDÍ rum - what the world now knows as premium light rum.
These new BACARDÍ rum blends were a delight to the residents who were accustomed to the local "ron" that was crude and harsh. Cuba's emerging middle class welcomed the taste of smooth, light-bodied, aged and mixable rums branded with an elegant, intriguing black bat on the label.
It was this creation by Bacardi that revolutionized the spirits world, enabling the creation of an entire cocktail category and culture that remains vibrant today with its legendary creation of the first mixable rum.