Getting the Second Day Underway: Looks Like a Very Interesting One

     The second day of judging rum and meetings with Wicked Dolphin, Puerto Angel and Skotlander rum companies.  Rum Line this evening also looks like it is going to be offering an interesting visit.

JoAnn Elardo Owner Wicked Dolphin

     The breakfast meeting with JoAnn Elardo, founder and owner of Cape Spirits, the producer of Wicked Dolphin Rums.   She shared with us the history of Cape Spirits and how she came to the point where she was ready for such an endeavor.   Wicked Dolphin is doing such a great job of producing so many straight ahead and honest expressions these days.  Their 3 year old Gold Reserve, the new Black Rum, The Brewers Series and the Hidden Barrel are fine examples of the expressions that are coming out of Wicked Dolphin these days.

     All of these rums are being rested in large 53 gallon former bourbon casks, aged in the traditional manner.   The Brewer's Series spend 2 years in the bourbon casks before being moved to the barrels from the brewery for an additional year.  All of the rum is fermented, distilled, and aged at the Cape Coral facility, they are not out sourcing any of the rum and blending them with their own.  They are in the midst of experimenting with other types of barrels and sugars as well, the results will be available in the near future.

Session 3

     Today's first round of judging was 17 flavored rums.  Thee can be some of the toughest to evaluate.  It is so hard to move from one to the next and cleanse the palate enough to get the previous one's flavors to go away before you start on the next one.   This was some of the best flavored rums as a group that I have evaluated in this category.  Much more sophisticated that in the past.



     Our lunch meeting is with Patrick Wilson of Puerto Angel Rum from Oxaca, Mexico.  This is a USB Certified organic rum, made from organically grown sugarcane from the 6,000 foot level just outside of Oxaca.  Oxaca is a rural mountain town where

things move slowly and the sugarcane gets to the distillery by mule.   Nature starts the fermentation process without the addition of yeast to get it started.  This is a naturally occurring yeast rather than a cultivated yeast.   The rum is aged in new American Oak barrels. The Blanco is aged for 90 days and the Amber for 3 years. Both of these rums are available in a good number of states here in the United States, so check with your favorite store to see if they have it on the shelf.   The Blanco will retail at $20 and the Amber at $22, both are priced right to sip or create your favorite cocktails with.  Blanco will make a great t punch or daiquiri.

     The final judging session of the day was one of the tougher ones.   It starts with the single vintage rums, which are very nice, then moves to the spiced rums which isn't too bad either.  The killer comes at the end when the throw six overproof rums at you to end the session.  I love the overproofs, but after three my tongue had become somewhat numb, and after six I couldn't feel my lips , nose or the back of my throat.  The flavors were great with all of them, but the numbing was a bit weird.  Only two sessions left and we have completed the judging.

Session 4

Titte Hansen Rum Maker

     Next the 5 pm meeting with Skotlander Rums.  Titte Hansen is the inspiration behind this unique rum that is produced entirely in Denmark.  I brings in the molasses, ferments it , a process that takes about a month in the chilly atmosphere of Scandinavia.   The wine is then distilled in his pot still and aged in oak.  Their # IV rum is placed on an old schooner and travels around the Danish Sea for approximately 1400 nautical miles, with the rolling seas helping to get more of the rum in contact with the barrel.  This one is bottled at 43% ABV and has a wonderful bold flavor.  
The first year they produced 1000 bottles of rum and were concerned that they might have to drink it themselves, but things have gone very well and this year the will have produced 10,000 bottles.  This is a great thing for some wonderful people,  Skotlander rum will be in the United States soon and available online in most states.

Miami Rum Festival - Day 1

Judges station ready for evaluating the expressions

     Opening breakfast get together got the day going, then off to the business at hand.  The first session of rum judging.   This will continue through Thursday, working two sessions a day tasting about 25 expressions during each session.

     The first round of judging covered the White, Premium White, and the Gold categories.  There were some very interesting expressions in each of the flights.  After evaluating each of the expressions it was off to the reveal room and seeing which rums we rated to be the best in their category.  There were some surprises, but the quality always come to the surface when it is said and done.

     Next was lunch with Marauda Steel Pan Rum. This is a very nice blend of three 3 year old rums
with no additives or colors.  It marries 3 year old column still rum from Trinidad with 3 year old potstill rums from Jamaica and Guyana.  It is currently available in New York, Washington DC, Delaware, and Maryland.  It is expected to reach other areas in the US as demand is created.  Priced between $30 to $35 per 750
ml bottle

     This is a beautiful amber colored rum with aromas of light wood and earthy elements.  A medium bodied rum with a warm tingling smooth finish.   See more at: http://www.tastings.com/Spirits-Review/Marauda-Steel-Pan-Rum-USA-07-01-2015.aspx#sthash.Ivz2xUMj.dpuf 

Judges arriving in the room for evaluation the expressions

     Next on the agenda was the second round of judging with all of the categories of aged rum being evaluated. There were five groups, Aged with no age statement, Aged 5 to 7 Years, Aged 9 to 12 Years, Aged 15 to 23 Years and Premium Aged with No age Statement. This is the group that most of us enjoy judging the most, and the smiles on our faces as we judge them tells the story.

Session two with all of the aged rums

 

Travel Day: Conchy Tonkin' To the Miami Rum Festival

     Today I leave the rock and head for Miami and the Rum Festival for 2016.  It is always a fun trip to Miami and visiting so many of the interesting places that line the keys.  This year I am lacking my friend John Gibbons who could not make it to the festival this year, but the journey must go on in spite.

     Today was a bit tame than in previous years.  Without my friends aboard I pretty much just drove straight through and took care of some Miami errands and an all important stop at Total Wine and More to check out the Rum shelves and pick up a couple of bottles for home.

     I will be bringing you all of the news from the festival starting tomorrow when the judging begins and we start our meetings with the producers to see what is new in the rum world for this year.

     Remember to get on line and get your tickets before they are sold out.   They are available at http://www.rumrenaissance.com/Tickets.html  .  There are a very limited number of tickets that may be available at the door.  Don't take a chance and be disappointed get them on line today.

A New Old Fashion for the Summer

     Time for a very dry cocktail created with one of my favorite young rums.   Richland Rum is an honest rum that is dry by nature, yet has a really full flavor, making it perfect for a dry yet flavorful evening cocktail.   For me anyway, I don’t find the sweet cocktails that refreshing, as we move toward the warmer months the dry cocktail is more to my liking.  I like dry cocktails that linger on the palate long after it has been finished.

     I think you will find this kin to an old fashion to be an enjoyable evening cocktail as you sit of the aft deck or the patio watching the sunset.

Good Ole Days

• 1 ½ oz. Richland Rum
• 1 ½ oz. Dry Vermouth
• ½ oz. Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao
• 2 Dashes of Angostura Bitters
• 1 Dash Fee Bros. Whiskey Barrel Aged Bitters

Place all ingredients into a shaker filled 2/3  with ice.  Shake until thoroughly chilled.  Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon or orange zest.

Twisted by the Wind and the Waves

2007 Hurricane Frances over the Bahamas

    I was going through some of my old pictures from the Bahamas and found this picture of what was left of a cock in the Abacos after Hurricane Frances hit there in 2007.  I find that the powers of Mother Nature, especially when she is irritated and whips up one of her really strong hurricanes.   Floyd was one of the most damaging hurricanes that ever hit the Bahamas and she left behind massive amounts of damage throughout island chain.

William Grant Revamps Wood’s Rum Design

William Grant & Sons UK has revealed new premium packaging for Wood’s Old Navy Rum, inspired by the brand’s naval heritage.

The bottle is now “simpler and sturdier”, with thicker glass and a cork stopper. The recipe remains unchanged.   “After evaluating the brand’s rich history, consumer trends and the dark rum category, we recognized an opportunity for the rejuvenation of Wood’s,” said brand manager, Gwilym Cooke.   “Without straying from the navy history, we wanted more premium packaging to match the quality of the liquid inside the bottle, which hasn’t changed since it was established in 1887.”

Wood’s is distilled from black strap molasses at the Demerrara Rum’s Diamond Distillery in Guyana. The blend contains rum distilled in the only working single wooden pot still in the world.  The Demerara Navy Rum is said to be the only expression still bottled at 57% abv.

Wood’s Old Navy Rum will start shipping in the new bottle from early April 2016. The product retails at around £25 for a 70cl bottle.

House of Angostura Redesigns Rum Packaging

 The House of Angostura unveiled a complete packaging redesign of its international rum portfolio at this month’s Rhum Fest in Paris.

     The “brave” new look includes Angostura 1824, Angostura 1919, Angostura 7 Year Old, Angostura 5 Year Old and Angostura Reserva.  The new labels have been “streamlined” to feature the same typography and the brand’s butterfly logo has been placed centre at the top of the front label.  Additionally, two new brand icons have been added – a map of Trinidad and Tobago on the left and an illustration of a butterfly and molasses on the right.   Furthermore, the bottle designs for premium expressions Angostura 1824, 1919 and 7 Year Old feature a thick glass base with a new “orchid closure system” to make them easier to open while offering secure protection.

     The signature of Dr J.G.B. Siegert, founder of Angostura, and the crest of The House of Angostura are embossed on the bottles.   The three variants are also available in carton packages, with 1824 and 1919 both available in tubes and 1919 also available in a matte grey box.  All five rums feature a “spirit of Trinidad and Tobago” illustration on the bottle closure to “reiterate” the brand story through images of a dancing woman, sugarcane and Trinidad’s national bird, Scarlet Ibis.

     “It’s a big, brave move for us,” said Genevieve Jodhan, executive manager – international sales and marketing. “We are confident that our new, modern and sophisticated packaging captures the more than 190 years of heritage and history that inform the proud traditions of The House of Angostura.  “Every change reflects the exquisite quality of our rums. The new packaging isn’t just aesthetically pleasing, it also centers the brand geographically in its Caribbean birthplace, Trinidad and Tobago and reflects the unique nature of our journey.  “The entire range of Angostura rums celebrates the history and the true spirit of Trinidad and Tobago.

     “Over the last 192 years Angostura has successfully perfected the art of rum making, creating elegant stylish rums that are now found across the five continents.  “We believe that our new, totally reimagined packaging reflects our sense of adventure and innovation.”

Read More at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2016/04/prweb13314955.htm

What Happens to the Old American Oak Barrels after Whiskey?

     For years whiskey producers were struggling what to do with a large number of barrels after they had been used for 3 to 4 years aging whiskey.  There were a large number of them being stored in warehouses at a great expense to the whiskey producers.  Today this is no longer a problem at all.  Barrels that were almost given away to get rid of them theses days are going for $200.00 or more depending on their condition and how many years they have spent with spirits inside.



     Today they have become a very valuable commodity, the demand for used whiskey barrels has grown exponentially over the past 10 or 15 years.  Every other spirit producer is vying for them along with a large number of beer producers as well.  The demand for them has all but used up all of the barrels that were sitting around in their storage warehouses and there are producers waiting for the next batch to come available as they are emptied.


     Some of the old barrels are being cut up and

used as flooring and others made into flower pots  My friend Troy Roberts at Drum Circle Distillery in Sarasota, Florida is loaning his rum barrels to a local brewery for aging beer then putting his rum into them giving the rum a new flavor from the barrels.  There are many sherry and other wine using old whiskey casks and then having rum makers buy them for aging of the rum afterward.  The days of the old whiskey barrels being an expensive storage issue is pretty much gone, and the life of a retired whiskey barrel has been greatly extended by the producers of almost every other spirit, wine and beer out there.

Havana Club Prepares for US Market

     There is a lot more that just opening the flood gate and we have Cuban rums here in the United States.  There isn't enough aged rum being made to fill the sudden surge in demand that the United States will create.  Havana Club and the rest of the Cuban brands that will be coming to the United States have a lot of preparation in order to make this happen. 

     Havana Club International S.A.''s general director, Frenchman Jerome Cottin-Bizonne, has stated that the company is preparing to compete on the US market when trade relations resume between Cuba and the USA.   The investment in the Havana Club factory, located at the Mayabeque municipality of San Jose de las Lajas, aims to meet the high level of demand for aged rums in the US.   That factory has been updated to international standards with cutting-edge technology and the required ISO accreditation, the executive stressed.

     Havana Club International is a joint venture between the French Pernod Ricard company and the CubaRon production plant.   According to Cottin-Bizonne, the partnership, founded in 1993, has been highly productive.   Cottin-Bizonne also said that the recent visit of U.S. President, Barack Obama, to Cuba was a good news for Havana Club, because it represents a step towards the opening of the U.S. market to the Cuban rum, particularly the Havana Club brand.

Ron Abuelo Has Introduced a New Ron Abuelo XV Finish Collection

     The Ron Abuelo XV Finish Collection are authentic Panama Rums, they are the fruit of a long family history that keeps adding to its expertise.   Ron Abuelo has shined for many years throughout Latin America.   There is a significant importance of tradition in the development of Abuelo Rum and experimentation which allowed to reach the "finish collection" of Abuelo XV.  The three new rums complement the existing range of Anejo, 7 years and 12 years, not to mention the prestigious Abuelo Centuria .

    Ron Abuelo XV Finish Collection is a masterful series rums that is a limited edition created by the master blender at Varela Hermanos. There are three expressions in the series, Napoleon, Tawny and Oloroso.   The names were chosen to reflect not just the character of the finishing wood, but also the places that inspired their creation: Napoleon for Cognac and France, Oloroso for Sherry and Spain and Tawny for Port and Portugal.  

      NAPOLEON: What better name for a rum finished in barrels that have contained cognac!  The French oak of these barrels and the delicate and complex flavor and aroma of cognac, with its characteristic fruity sweetness, give Napoleon its distinctive character, because different notes appear to those that we traditionally have in our rums.  The aroma has notes of wood, fruit and a hint of cacao.  On the palate it has a dry fruit and wood with a lingering elegant finish.

     OLOROSO: Finished in “botas” of Jerez Oloroso (Fragrant Sherry) made of American oak.  The Jerez Oloroso is a really aromatic wine with a lot of body and mildly sweet.  It is perhaps the expression that most maintains the traditional character of our rums, but with a more complex character, which gives it its final finish where the notes of dried fruit can be distinguished.  First pass by the nose give you a complex blend of citrus peel and smokey wood.  In the mouth there are notes of citrus and toasted almonds in the rear of the mouth and a long and enjoyable finish.

  

     TAWNY:  means “amber or dark brown”.  This was the name given by the British in the XVII century to the most aged wines from Oporto, because of their color. As a dessert wine, it gives our rum a special and distinctive sweetness with notes of “berries,” but without notably transforming its characteristics.  On the nose this is unique with a sweet and dryness that is a blend of the wood and the berries.  In the mouth, there is a natural sweetness of a well rounded blend.  The flavors in the mouth seem to remain for an inordinate amount of time with woody and fruited notes at the finish.

     All three of these expressions have different and unique flavors that are what has come to be expected from the Varela Hermanos Distillery.   It is expected to be priced between $65.00 and $70.00 herein the United States and available around the end of April.  

The Southernmost Airshow from Boca Chica Beach

     It is one thing to stand all day on the tarmac and watch the airshow, but for the Southernmost boatnicks, it is a day on the water enjoying the sun, the airshow and a dip in the water when it gets hot.   In the Keys, we do know how to have fun on the water.  There were more than 200 boats out anchored out and partying.   Just enjoy all the pictures of this fabulous show.

Kayaking Gives You a Different Perspective of the Bridge

     Since we started kayaking around Bahia Honda, I'm really surprised how different things seem.  Being closer the water and able to move up very close to the things and wildlife is not only fun, but it is sometimes quite spectacular.

This Year's Miami Rum Renaissance Festival Is less than Two Weeks Away

    Enjoy a grand three-day exhibition of the best rum brands, the excitement of the Island Lifestyle Showcase, celebrity seminars, workshops and cocktail competitions, the annual RumXP competition and awards, an opportunity to rub shoulders with dignitaries and notable experts, and more.

No Tickets Sales At The Door

A reminder: tickets for Miami Rum Renaissance Festival will not be sold at the door.

Order tickets and trade passes in advance online or by phone. $75 per day or $125 for three days.

http://www.rumrenaissance.com/Tickets.html

    Tickets are available for the this years Miami Rum Renaissance Festival.   You need to get your tickets ahead of time, because there will not be tickets sold at the door.  This is the Rum Show that you really don't want to miss, there are just a ton of producers and distributors there to introduce you to all of the new rum expressions..

Southermost Air Spectacular Saturday and Sunday

 The skill and training required by military aviators is evident in the U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron the Blue Angels, as well as the other military flight demonstration teams that you will see this weekend. The incredible maneuvers that the Blue Angels perform are actually the same fundamental maneuvers that are employed in aerial combat.
 

   

     We have also selected very special civilian performers for the Southernmost Air Spectacular. The performers that you see today have spent thousands of hours developing their amazing and exciting aerobatic acts.   Spectacular flying, static displays, a Kid's Zone, souvenirs and concessions – there is no better way to spend a day with family and friends! We are glad you are here to see your military in action!

April 2^nd & 3^rd 2016

Gates open at 9 am
Air Show starts at 10:30 am
Blue Angels Fly at 2:30 pm

     What is the admission fee?

There is no admission or parking fee. Patrons are welcome to bring their own chairs/blankets. The earlier one arrives, the better the set-up spots. There is a fee for reserved seating. Seats can be reserved in advance or purchased as available on the day of the show. Once the show starts, spaces behind the bleachers are not good for viewing anything on the tarmac, so the open spaces to the sides of the bleacher areas are the best for viewing.

For additional information go to  http://airshowkeywest.com/index.php/faqs/
   

South Florida Distillers Releases First Batch of Single Barrel Aged Fwaygo

     South Florida Distillers, makers of Fwaygo white rum, has marked its one-year anniversary with a special bottling.   Starting this week, founding partners Joe Durkin and Avi Eisenberg will begin selling their first batch of aged Fwayo, an award-winning white rum aged in virgin white American oak barrels.   Aging since February 22, 2015, the limited-edition rum, dubbed simply "single barrel Fwaygo," is twice-distilled, producing a deep, toffee-hued liquor.

     "The flavor we've arrived at is very unique and almost fools you into thinking you're drinking a bourbon," says Durkin. "It's got a really strong, smoky front end that moves into rum-like notes of sweet toffee, caramel, and vanilla on the back end. We like to think of it as getting the best of both worlds."

     True rum enthusiasts can geek it up by visiting the South Florida Distillers website, where they can find the distiller's notes for each bottle; in other words, you can look up how your rum was aged, including what barrel it was aged in, the char level of the barrel, when it was filled, when it was emptied, and at what proof it was aged.

     If you're interested in getting your hands on a bottle of single-barrel Fwaygo, act fast. The distillery's first special-edition bottle, a Grilled Pineapple Fwaygo made from locally harvested fruit that went on sale last October, sold out in record time.   Bottles will go on sale at the distillery at noon Thursday, March 24. Priced at $60 each, bottles of single-barrel Fwaygo will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Burlock Coast's  Rum Shop (inside the Fort Lauderdale Ritz-Carlton, 1 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.) is the only retail market carrying the specialty release.

South Florida Distillers is located at 1110 NE Eighth Ave., Unit 3C, Fort Lauderdale. Visit southfloridadistillers.com.

Read More at http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/restaurants/south-florida-distillers-releases-first-batch-of-single-barrel-aged-fwaygo-this-week-7666713

"2016 World's Best Rums Announced

      The World’s Best Rums for 2016 were recently announced and shockingly no Caribbean rum made the winners’ list.   The best rum for 2016, just announced last week by The 2016 World Rum Awards, went to an Australian company you may not have heard of.   Bundaberg Rum Master Distillers’ Collection – Blenders Edition 2015 was named “World’s Best Rum 2016.” It is produced by the Bundaberg Distilling Company and has a “polished oak notes, rich fruit cake and treacle aromas.”   Bundaberg Rum also was named Best Dark Rum for 2016 while the distillery also took home the title of “Best Gold Rum 2016” for its Bundaberg Rum Master Distillers’ Collection Small Batch.

     Meanwhile, the “Best Flavored Rum 2016” honor went to Spirits of Old Man Rum Project One, produced by a German company named Spirits of Old Man GmbH Germany while the “Best Overproof Rum 2016” went to the St Vincent Distillers Sunset Very Strong Rum.   But don’t be fooled by the name – the producers are Sunset Rum UK and not from the island of St. Vincent & the Grenadines.

     The “Best Spiced Rum 2016” award went to Bayou Spiced, produced by Louisiana Spirits LLC of the USA which also took the award for “Best White Rum 2016” for its Bayou Silver.

     The Awards are part of the World Drinks Awards program, launched in 2007 with the World Whiskies Awards and World Beer Awards. Presented by TheDrinksReport.com .   The World Rum Awards selects, rewards and promotes the best Rum Taste and Design to consumers and trade across the globe.

Sailor Jerry Unveils Flash Art Bottle Wraps

William Grant & Sons is set to launch a series of limited edition flash art bottle wraps and cups for its Sailor Jerry rum brand.

     Based on flash designs from the “undisputed father” of old school tattoos, Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins, each of the four new designs – the homeward bound ship, an American eagle, a pin-up girl and a Gypsy – holds a specific meaning.

     The range itself is said to be “inspired by brotherhood, embodying freedom of expression and showcasing the craft of old school tattooing”.

     The gypsy design represents “good fortune”, while the ship is “practical, patriotic and metaphorical” – tattooed on sailors as a reminder of home.

     The eagle is a symbol for America, and represents “honor, prowess and intelligence”, while the pin-up girl design – arguably Sailor Jerry’s most iconic – represents the “ideal and extremes of femininity”.

     Dave Hort, senior brand manager of Sailor Jerry, said: “We wanted to provide our consumers with a collectible run of new bottle wraps based on the great, iconic works of our founding father Norman Collins.

     “These new wraps showcase some of the highest quality flash art that has spanned generations, and we’re proud to continue spreading the word of Norman Collins through this limited edition packaging.”

Released exclusively in the UK and Australia, the first two designs will hit shelves from April, with the second two designs to follow later in the year.

The Bacardi's of Santiago de Cuba

Bacardi Mansion in Santiago de Cuba

     Havana has its charm, but for pure Cuban history and colorful people it is hard to beat Santiago de Cuba.   From the battle of the Spanish Cuban and American War to what I want to talk about today, The Bacardi Family.   Emilio Bacardi Moreau, son of Facundo and Amalia, fought for independence from Spain, was exiled and jailed, once for four years. Eventually he became the first freely elected mayor of Santiago de Cuba. 

Facundo Bacardi Masso

          Facundo Bacardi Masso, youngest of four sons of a Catalonian stonemason. Masso emigrated to Cuba in 1830.   He set up his shop and worked it diligently , he became known as "Don Facundo," owing to his serious, Don-like manner.   Bacardi's wife, Amalia Moreau, and her wealth would end up helping Bacardi fund his business ventures over the years including the Bacardi Factory.    

     An earthquake almost destroyed Bacardi before it began.  In the summer of 1852, earthquakes hit Santiago de Cuba.  The city was nearly destroyed, along with it the aspirations of Bacardi.    The Caribbean experienced waves of cholera pandemics in the 19th Century, and Cuba was among the suffering countries. One such wave, which lasted from 1850 to 1856 and took two of their children, gave the Bacardi family an incentive to leave Cuba.   Not permanently, clearly, but after the earthquake and cholera outbreaks, Facundo thought it wise to return home to Catalonia for a time.

Bacardi Rum Factory Early Days

    They returned after a few years, at which point Facundo started toying with distillation.   Initially his rum was pretty rough stuff.   That  shouldn't surprise anyone, since it was basically developed as a "trash" product-in the sense that 17th Century sugar producers were beset with the problem their leftover molasses from the processing of the sugar  . In fact, they used to dump it in the ocean before somebody figured out how to ferment it and turn it into rum..

     Facundo Bacardi wasn't originally a distiller by trade.   A businessman looking for a hook, Bacardi and partner José León Boutellier toyed around with the process of rum distillation, incorporating the use of new white oak barrels for aging, charcoal filtering  and a proprietary yeast strain that Bacardi uses to this day.

Bacardi Daughter's Home on the Grounds of the Mansion

     The Bacardi Family lived a life of opulence in Santiago de Cuba.  Their home was massive and very beautiful.  Today you can tour the grounds and see the mansion that is being used as a school that Castro use to tech about the government of Cuba.   The daughter's house was also there on the grounds and just as spectacular.  They lived in a area that is nothing but huge beautiful mansions on the hills overlooking Santiago de Cuba. 

The Hatuey brand originated in Cuba and was owned by the Bacardi family.

     The Factory and the brewery are also still in full operation down next to the railway in the downtown area.  They still produce the finest rums in Cuba at this distillery.   The brewery, located just up the street from the rum factory is producing beers for local consumption only.  Even though the Bacardi's have been gone from Santiago de Cuba since 1959, their presents can still be felt.

Bacardy Rum Factory Today in Santiago de Cuba