- BACARDI rum celebrates at star-studded parties around the world
- Largest Bacardi family reunion to commemorate 1862 founding of Company and creation of world's favorite rum
- Governments declare February 4 "Bacardi Day"
HAMILTON, Bermuda, Feb. 4, 2012 -- Family-owned Bacardi Limited officially marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Company and its iconic BACARDI® rum brand on February 4 with activities around the world honoring the world's favorite rum brand. The Company is celebrating its spectacular growth from a small distillery founded by Don Facundo Bacardi Masso in Santiago de Cuba in 1862 to what is now the world's largest privately-owned spirits company.Consumers around the world celebrate with classic, great tasting BACARDI rum cocktails at one-of-a-kind birthday parties and other BACARDI-themed events while the Bacardi family marks this historic milestone with its largest reunion ever. As part of its yearlong anniversary celebration, Bacardi launches themed promotions, opens a historical exhibition in Italy, rolls out a $2,000 limited-edition super-premium blend from the Bacardi family Maestros de Ron (Master Blenders) and accepts proclamations from governments declaring the day "Bacardi Day."
"This is an extraordinary milestone to celebrate as 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 changed the spirits industry forever. Every day I'm inspired by his achievements and am proud to carry on his legacy as chairman of the Company he established on February 4, 1862, in Santiago de Cuba," says Facundo L. Bacardi, Chairman of Bacardi Limited and fifth generation family member. "The fact that our family name is on every bottle of BACARDI rum is a constant reminder of a deep-seated commitment to deliver products of exceptional quality for the best tasting cocktails. Since the creation of BACARDI rum 150 years ago, some 365 billion BACARDI cocktails have been enjoyed worldwide."
BACARDI Parties around the World
150th anniversary celebrations featuring award-winning musical talent and top celebrities are giving consumers around the world the chance to party with BACARDI and enjoy legendary BACARDI rum cocktails. Today, Rolling Stone® magazine hosts the must-attend "BACARDI Bash: 150 Years Rocking the Party" in Indianapolis where performances from LMFAO, Lupe Fiasco, Cobra Starship and Gym Class Heroes make this one of the hottest tickets the weekend of the "big game" -- the most anticipated professional football championship game in the U.S. The festivities continue throughout 2012 as Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East host their own BACARDI 150th celebrations.
Bacardi kicked-off star-studded BACARDI 150th birthday parties for consumers from Berlin to Miami with celebrities and VIPs. Magazine publisher Conde Nast also hosted a commemorative event for BACARDI rum in New York. Celebrity Cruises® marks the milestone with a party aboard the Celebrity Summit® as it departs February 4 from Puerto Rico, home to the largest BACARDI rum distillery in the world.
The Largest Bacardi Family Reunion Ever
150th anniversary celebrations featuring award-winning musical talent and top celebrities are giving consumers around the world the chance to party with BACARDI and enjoy legendary BACARDI rum cocktails. Today, Rolling Stone® magazine hosts the must-attend "BACARDI Bash: 150 Years Rocking the Party" in Indianapolis where performances from LMFAO, Lupe Fiasco, Cobra Starship and Gym Class Heroes make this one of the hottest tickets the weekend of the "big game" -- the most anticipated professional football championship game in the U.S. The festivities continue throughout 2012 as Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East host their own BACARDI 150th celebrations.
Bacardi kicked-off star-studded BACARDI 150th birthday parties for consumers from Berlin to Miami with celebrities and VIPs. Magazine publisher Conde Nast also hosted a commemorative event for BACARDI rum in New York. Celebrity Cruises® marks the milestone with a party aboard the Celebrity Summit® as it departs February 4 from Puerto Rico, home to the largest BACARDI rum distillery in the world.
The Largest Bacardi Family Reunion Ever
Nearly 600 members of the Bacardi family from around the world gathered in Puerto Rico to celebrate the 150th anniversary at their largest reunion ever. Activities included a commemorative celebration featuring a family photo of all eight generations of the Bacardi family and the unveiling of a bust of Bacardi founder Don Facundo Bacardi Masso by sculptor and family member Helena Bacardi that will take permanent residence on the Bacardi campus in Puerto Rico. Bacardi Limited Chairman and great-great grandson of Company founder, Facundo L. Bacardi, led other family members in the planting of a coconut palm to commemorate the original "el coco" that stood at the entrance of the first Bacardi distillery in Cuba and has long symbolized the Bacardi family's perseverance over adversity. Puerto Rico is also home to the Casa Bacardi Visitor Center, the second most-visited venue in Puerto Rico, drawing more than 230,000 visitors a year to learn about the rich history and unique production of BACARDI rums.
"It is exceptional for a family-owned company to survive 150 years, let alone thrive," said Seamus McBride, CEO of Bacardi Limited. "The fact that Bacardi has grown into the third-largest global spirits company is truly something to celebrate."
Official Founding Day of February 4 Recognized as "Bacardi Day"
"It is exceptional for a family-owned company to survive 150 years, let alone thrive," said Seamus McBride, CEO of Bacardi Limited. "The fact that Bacardi has grown into the third-largest global spirits company is truly something to celebrate."
Official Founding Day of February 4 Recognized as "Bacardi Day"
At the family reunion, Puerto Rico Governor Luis G. Fortuno presented Bacardi with a proclamation declaring February 4 "Bacardi Day" in acknowledgement of the Company's key role in the island's economy. Other proclamations, resolutions and official letters recognizing the 150th anniversary of BACARDI rum include congratulatory letters from the Bermuda Ministry of Development and Tourism, where Bacardi Limited is headquartered; and Florida Governor Rick Scott; as well as proclamations from Miami-Dade County; the City of Coral Gables, where Bacardi Americas is headquartered; and a United States Senate proclamation by Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio; U.S. House Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's statement for the Congressional Record; a Florida Senate resolution introduced by Senator Miguel de la Portilla and approved by the Florida Senate; and a Florida House resolution introduced by Representative Erik Fresen.
