With a history dating back to the 1800s, this cocktail has a story to tell. Facundo began attempting to tame rum by isolating a proprietary strain of yeast still used in bacardi production. Facundo bacardi masso, a spanish wine merchant, was born in sitges, barcelona, spain, in 1814, and emigrated to cuba in 1830. If you think a rum and coke is a cuba libre, weve got some news for you a little history. Enjoy them whilst relaxing at the lounge bar or on our sun trap terrace. If you think a rum and coke is a cuba libre, weve got some news for you. A refreshing history of the folks who brought the world the cuba libre, and who agitate for a cuba libre even today. Cuba libre is set in the transition between those two periods 1898, just before the u. Rum maker emilio bacardis life turned into a graphic. The book, which is written with the grace and fluidity of a novel, shines a light onto the characters and events that changed cuba forever.
The new bacardi true originals video, also available at. The cuba libre cocktail, known more commonly as a rum and coke with a slice of lime, has a colorful history that dates to the early 1900s. Born in the afterglow of revolution, the cuba libre cocktail came about during a golden time in cubaunited states relations. History of the cuba libre rum and coke drink havana journal.
History of the cuba libre cocktail make me a cocktail. The history of a family and its cubanborn, puerto ricobased, now worldwide liquor giant. Cuban rum history the fact that the cuba libre cocktail continues to gain popularity after 111 years speaks to the exceptional quality and great taste bacardi adds to this iconic drink, said eugenio mendez, senior global category director rums. Tom gjelten weaves the story of the bacardi family through cubas history in a captivating manner. The indispensables may not save the world, but itll surely rescue your cocktail hour. Rum, revolution, romance and modern globalization come together in a pistolpacking salsa dance of modern history in bacardi and the long fight for cuba.
However, the drink may be made with various types of rums and cola brands. I skipped cuba libre because i was not as interested in his westerns. A bacardi advertising executive claims he was in havana in 1900 when the drink was first mixed with bacardi rum and cocacola. The cuba libre cocktail distiller the distiller blog.
In this widely hailed book, npr correspondent tom gjelten fuses the story of the bacardi family and their famous rum business with cubas tumultuous experience over the last 150 years to produce a deeply entertaining historical narrative. Tom gjeltens new book, bacardi and the long fight for cuba, threads the history of. Bacardi, the puerto rican rum that will be forever cuban. It uses white rum, usually havana club or bacardi gold, cocacola, squeezed lime and ice cubes. Bacardi limited entered the twentyfirst century as a genuine multinational, headquartered in bermuda, with a product line that included whisky, gin, vermouth, vodka and tequila, as well as rum. Bacardi biography details the fight for cuba tom gjeltens new book, bacardi and the long fight for cuba, threads the history of the familyowned bacardi rum. In 1910, bacardi became cubas first multinational company, opening a facility in barcelona, spain and, soon after, another in new york city.
Emilio bacardi, especially, comes to life as the books most powerful character, though one so strange that. In the decades that followed his heirs were deeply involved in the struggle for. Just as bacardi history helps explain modern cuba, the companys cuba connection helps us trace the evolution of a unique family firm. Cuba libre traditional cuban cocktail recipe 196 flavors. Though his name is mentioned in few cuban history books, emilio bacardi moreau was a rare example of enlightened and responsible civic. History of the cuba libre rum and coke drink posted august 22, 2011 by publisher. The business people i was meeting on my trip expressed concerns about the current events in cuba and i wanted to update my knowledge of cubas history but wanted something that i could also enjoy. I would say this book is definitive, just not always easily readable. Very complete history of the bacardi empire as it intertwines with the history of cuba.
During the american intervention, the words cuba libre meaning. If youre a fan of cocktails, cuban culture and cuban history this book covers it. Ellis says he believes major political movements in the story give it an apt context. There are all kinds of accounts and legends, but many of them dont add up. Bacardi is perhaps the most iconic rum in the americas and is credited with creating such classic cocktails as the cuba libre rum and cocacola and the daiquiri favored by ernest hemingway. The first is a history of cuba from the 1860s to the 1960s, centered on bacardi and the city of santiago. Tom gjelten weaves the story of the bacardi family through cuba s history in a captivating manner. The bacardi rum dynasty is now headquartered in puerto rico, but. Ordering a generic rum and cola usually begets a poor imitation.
According to anthony dias blue, author of the complete book of spirits 2004, cuba libre once contained a dose of gin, but this is no longer the case today. Far from churning out low quality spirits as the locals had been used to, bacardi set about refining rum for more sophisticated palates. Since i dont expect any new books anymore, i started reading the westerns. Twitter facebook whatsapp email these links will open in a new window. Bacardi biography details the fight for cuba tom gjeltens new book, bacardi and the long fight for cuba, threads the history of the familyowned bacardi rum co. An extensive guide to the rich tasteand tumultuous historyof cuban rum.
Today, the recipe is precisely codified as are most cocktails. Guide to cuban rum history of rum in cuba and the best. The largest familyowned spirits company in the world. The authors central point is that the history of cuba can be narrated around tales of rum.
I started reading elmore leonard books starting in around1988 and would read every new book that came out. Rum maker emilio bacardis life turned into a graphic novel. The bacardi rum company was founded by a catalan merchant in 1862, when cuba was still a spanish colony. Bacardi shares rare look into archive to showcase 150year rise of iconic rum brand from beginnings in cuba to worlds favorite rum hamilton, bermuda, june 12, 2012 as part of its 150th anniversary celebration, bacardi limited shares an extraordinary glimpse into the unique heritage safeguarded in the bacardi archive of more than 150 years. A refreshing history of the folks who brought the world the cuba libre, and who agitate for a cuba libre even today the bacardi rum dynasty is now headquartered in puerto rico, but its origins are cubanand, writes npr correspondent gjelten sarajevo daily. In their book cuban cocktails, historians anistasia miller and jared. During this period, rum was cheaply made and not considered a refined drink, and rarely sold in upmarket taverns. The business people i was meeting on my trip expressed concerns about the current events in cuba and i wanted to update my knowledge of cuba s history but wanted something that i could also enjoy. The natives were mixing all kinds of colabased concoctions at the time. Thus, the first cuba libre consisted of bacardi rum and cocacola. The phrase por cuba libre translates to free cuba, and was the battle cry of the cuba liberation army during their war of independence from spain that ended in 1898, according to the havana club. Gjelten writes, though his name is mentioned in few cuban history books, emilio bacardi moreau was a rare. You wont find any bacardi products in cuba, and this book explains why.
Bacardi superior rum has been there since the beginning, nearly as long as the cocktail itself. The indispensables is s series devoted to the classic cocktails drinkers of every skill need in their arsenal. The company even trademarked the bacardi cuba libre and the bacardi daiquiri to ensure that they could not be legally made without using bacardi. There are really two parts to tom gjeltens bacardi and the long fight for cuba 2008. Originally known for its bacardi white rum, it now has a portfolio of more than 200 liquor and spirits labels. A city and its newspaper under siege, 1995, cuban of a particular kind, nationalistic and proud.
I purchased the book for friends who have visited cuba. One of the first cuban cocktails to use bacardi was the daiquiri, a drink made of local lime juice, sugar, shaved ice and the famous rum, concocted by an american. Casa bacardi sitges will remain closed until further notice. A terrific piece of storytelling reveals a fascinating bit of history. There are multiple versions of how it became associated. Bacardi is the largest privately held, familyowned spirits company in the world. Bacardi rum and the history of the cuba libre electrogent.
Bacardi and the long fight for cuba audiobook by tom. Cuba libre che, fidel, and the improbable revolution. It is by turns fascinating, but often slows down because of so many names and details. Tom gjelten explains how the cuba libre got its name. The bacardi rum dynasty is now headquartered in puerto rico, but its origins are. Traditionally, the cola ingredient is cocacola coke, and the alcohol is a light rum such as bacardi.
Gjelten is to be commended for his exhaustive research. Trying to get a real handle on the history of the cuba libre is like trying to figure out who the first person to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich was. Each installment features one signature recipe, assembled from intel by the best bartenders. They toasted to a free cuba, introducing the original cuba libre.
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