If you’re a fan of rum and are headed to Puerto Rico, a stop at the iconic Bacardi Rum Factory should be on your short list of things to do. The Casa BACARDI tour once included free samples; however, those days are seemingly long gone.
When we did the Casa BACARDI tour, it was on an organized group tour and still included a free sample of Bacardi rum. Today, there are several price options, which may not seem like that good of a deal to some. Given the admission prices of Casa Bacardi today, visiting on your own makes far more sense. I felt we were pretty rushed given the time constraints of the large group that had to get back to town when the tour was over. The grounds are beautiful and it would’ve been nice to enjoy the patio area more (and not gulp my drink). There are cheap public transportation options, but if I went again, I’d prefer to rent a car in San Juan and explore more of the island itself.
Are you wondering if the tour is still worth it?
I’d say yes, especially if you have an interest in the history of Caribbean rums. Even prior to moving to Belize, I had always been drawn to Caribbean rums and the history of various countries’ production styles.
The Bacardi brand has been around since 1862, when Don Facundo Bacardi Masso launched his rum in Santiago de Cuba. He introduced it to markets like Havana, San Juan, and Miami. Bacardi established itself in Old San Juan around 1936 and in the last 25 years, it has emerged as the top selling rum in the United States.
Home of the Bat
Bacardi is immediately recognizable by its well-known bat logo. During your tour at the Casa BACARDI Visitor Center, you’ll learn about Bacardi’s history, how he started in rum, and the meaning behind the bat logo itself. Be sure to bring your camera as you’ll find a pretty impressive rendition of the bat logo in the Spanish-style courtyard.
Medals on the Bacardi Label
Have you ever noticed that the label of Bacardi bottles contain eight medals? The oldest is from Matanzas, Cuba, in 1881, while the others are awards from international exhibitions that followed.
Casa BACARDI Tour Options
With the recent price hikes, here’s a look at what the tour prices are now, as of April 2015.
Casa BACARDI Visitor Center Fee $12
Must enter prior to 4pm to take this tour, which includes:
- Commemorative Bacardi Cup
- Bacardi Special “Welcome” Cocktail
- Brochure of Bacardi Distillery Tour
Casa BACARDI Rum Tasting $35
Package offered daily every hour, on the hour, between 10am to 4pm, and includes:
- Commemorative Bacardi Cup, Bacardi Special “Welcome” Cocktail, brochure of the Bacardi Distillery Tour and Official Certification of Completion
- Distillery tour and access to the cathedral of rum with assigned brand master
- Experience rum tasting of Bacardi Superior, Bacardi Oakheart, Bacardi 8, and Bacardi Reserva Limitada
Casa BACARDI Mixology Seminar $35
If you want to make your own Bacardi cocktails, this tour is for you. These seminars are offered on the half-hour, every hour between 10:30am to 4:30pm, and include:
- Commemorative Bacardi Cup, Bacardi Special “Welcome” Cocktail, brochure of Bacardi Distillery Tour, and Official Certification of Completion
- Distillery tour and access to the cathedral of rum with assigned brand master
- Prepare 3 legendary Bacardi cocktails: Cuba Libre, Mojito, and Daiquiri
Bacardi Legendary Cocktails
If you take the Mixology Seminar, you’ll try making three of the most famous cocktails the Bacardi name is associated with:
Bacardi and Cola
This is the original Cuba Libre, which originated in Old Havana after the Spanish-American war. Legend has it that the drink was invented by an American military officer who ordered Bacardi rum, coke on ice with a wedge of lime.
Bacardi Mojito
This is often called the unofficial cocktail of Cuba. It became popular around the time Bacardi light rum hit the scene. Made with spearmint leaves, sugar, lime juice, seltzer, and Bacardi rum, of course.
Bacardi Daiquiri
You can thank an American mining engineer for this creation. After a long hot day at work in the iron mines, he took fresh lime juice, sugar, crushed ice, and Bacardi rum. He named it the Daiquiri after the name of the mines he worked in, the Daiquiri Iron Mines.
Casa BACARDI Visitor Center Information
Tours are Monday-Saturday from 9am to 6pm (last tour 4:15pm) and Saturday from 10am – 5pm (last tour 3:45pm). To drive to Casa BACARDI, take Highway 22 west from San Juan and exit Cataño, Road 165. You can see the facility on the right, about a mile from the exit on Road 165, Km 2.6, Int. 888. For more information, see Bacardi’s website.
This post was in partnership with Alamo Rental Car, but as always, thoughts and opinions are my own.
