Bacardi launches new "Rum History" videos

Bacardi has launched a new web campaign called Bacardi Rum and Family. Set as a series of video vinneats that explain Bacardi's Cuban history and the history of classic cocktails inspired by their RUM (Daiquiri, Mojito, Cuba Libre).

All of the videos are quite short, most around 30 seconds, but are done fairly well. My favorites are the one's that kitchily recreate the past "Prohibition", "The Original Daiquiri" and "The Cocktail Revolution". They don't make me want to run out and drink Bacardi RUMs but they are something different.

Unfortunetly, the videos leave the viewer with the impression that Bacardi is still distilled in Cuba with no mention of their move to Puerto Rico.

Cuban Special #2

Late last night while watching a moview I paused long enough to make a “Cuban Special #2” from Trader Vic’s 1947 Bartender’s Guide. It was pretty good. It had:

1.5 oz. Puerto Rican Rum (Bacardi Gold)
.5 tsp Grenadine (Fee Brothers)
.5 tsp Cherry syrup (my substitution for Maraschino Liqueur)
2 drops lemon juice
1 dash orange bitters (Regan's Orange Bitters #5)

Shaken over ice and strained. Not bad.

Caribbean RUM wars continue

Puerto Rico Must Open Books on Secret Rum Subsidies, Says Letter From Black Chamber of Commerce to Gov. Fortuno
- Governor Must Address Rumored Puerto Rico Payments to Rum Companies by Releasing Contracts, Financial Information

Alleged Hidden Payments Mislead Citizens and Lawmakers; Payments from General Fund Exceed Self-Imposed Cap

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a letter to Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuno, National Black Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Harry Alford today called upon him to disclose his territory's direct and indirect payments and subsidies to its rum companies....

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/puerto-rico-must-open-books-on-secret-rum-subsidies-says-letter-from-black-chamber-of-commerce-to-gov-fortuno-85248882.html

Bacardi Select RUM Tasting

Bacardi Select RUM is 80 proof (40% alcohol). It has a dark carmel appearance with medium legs. In the bottle, this RUM has a pleasant, mossy, carmel, smokey aroma. The smell has a light detection of alcohol and is a bit fruity (hints of orange).

Over Ice: Bacardi Select blends in a smokey, mossy, almost burnt aroma. Unfortunetly the alcohol smell increases dramatically. Taste straight over ice produces a great deal of alcohol burn which is quite harsh. However, I did notice a mix of carmel and fruit after taste once the burn subsided. But let me be clear, the burn is hot and thus not good.

With Coke Zero: Sweet and tasty. This is how to drink Bacardi Select RUM! This mix definetly enhances the carmel flavor and adds to the sweetness of the Coke Zero. Really, it is almost like they distilled this RUM specifically to make Cuba Libre with it. I like this much more than over ice.

Final score: 6.5 out of 10