Free Republic

On May 19th, 1917, at the height of World War One, Swedish steamer S/S Kyros set its course to Petrograd (today known as St Petersburg). It was delivering 50 cases of cognac and 15 cases of liqueur from France to Russia through neutral Swedish territory. But just off Åland island in the Baltic Sea, it was stopped and checked by German submarine UC-58, whose captain decided to sink the steamer because the alcohol was considered an illegal contraband product. The crew were transferred to another ship and were able to return home to Sweden safely – but the cognac and...

When Eduardo Bacardi describes the rum company he works for by saying, “There’re people who love it for so many different reasons; Some love the label or the history or the liquid or they know someone in the family,” he’s not talking about the rum you might expect. Though his name suggests a close association with the maker of the planet’s best-selling rum, he actually holds a top managerial position at a long-time Casa Bacardi competitor. Rather than contributing his labor to the world’s largest family-owned spirits company, of which he’s the sixth generation of approximately 600 living family members,...

Major Lazer began their special partnership with BACARDÍ at the beginning of the year when they announced the 'Sound of Rum' concept which is a movement of sound blurring the lines between various genres including dancehall, soca, hip-hop, reggae and electronic music.

Drinkers the world round know the name Bacardi means rum, but few non-Cubans know that this global enterprise was founded -- and is still owned -- by a Cuban family that played an important role in the island's social, political and economic history. Emilio Bacardi was a prominent activist in Cuba's fight for independence from Spain, suffering lengthy periods of imprisonment for the cause. Other members of the clan, based in Cuba's eastern city of Santiago, also stepped forward to oppose the sad parade of corrupt and dictatorial rulers that the island has since known. Longtime NPR correspondent Tom Gjelten...

MIAMI -- Bacardi said its 151-proof rum was not the cause of burns suffered by three women who sued the spirits company and alleged that their injuries were caused when a bottle used to pour shots turned into a "flame thrower." Bacardi, in a motion to dismiss the women's' lawsuits, said their injuries were caused after a bartender poured rubbing alcohol on the bar of the "Secrets" adult club and ignited it as part of a promotion for flaming drinks in 2002. Quoting from Miami-Dade County police and fire reports, the company said another drunken patron placed a paper menu...