Matthew Yglesias » We Gon’ Eschew Bacardi Like It’s the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution

Jan 2nd, 2009 at 9:43 am

We Gon’ Eschew Bacardi Like It’s the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution

Well, okay, I’m not my grandfather so I wouldn’t actually advise that people join Fidel Castro in celebrating 50 years of Communism for Cuba. But America’s policy toward Cuba is still dumb and immoral. What’s more, Neil Sinhababu points out to us that Baccardi Rum is controlled by Cuban exiles who give money to rightwing politicians to help endlessly entrench these policies:

He suggests as an alternative Flor de Caña, a Nicaraguan brand.

Comments
26

Filed under: Booze, Cuba, Rum

26 Responses to “We Gon’ Eschew Bacardi Like It’s the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution”

live Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:46 am
The Haitian rum Barbancourt is a good one, but I don’t know if it has unsavory political associations.
Don Williams Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:49 am
What’s wrong with Mount Gay?
Peter Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:53 am
Pyrat rum from Anguilla is an expensive but very good brand.
Njorl Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:00 am
Pyrat rum from Anguilla is an expensive but very good brand.

So, is “Pyrat” pronounced “Pirate”? Yo, ho, ho.
Daniel Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:04 am
I happily recommend Puerto Rico’s other major rum, Don Q, or Ron del Barrilito (if you can find either).
gillb Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:27 am
Im going to suggest Appleton Estates Jamaican Rum or for something stronger Wray and Nephew Jamaican White Rum.
Bullsmith Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:44 am
Flor de Cana makes some damn fine rum.
Grandjester Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:07 am
Gosling Black Seal
Pierre de Fermat Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:17 am
Myers (and fresh OJ).
Meh Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:39 am
Out here in the civilised world, we drink Havana Club, straight from Cuba.

Out there you’ve even allowed Barcadi to steal that trademark.
C Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:45 am
Matt is of course right to say that the US policy towards Cuba is backwards and immoral, but the Bacardi family’s story that he touched upon is actually quite nuanced.

As described in Tom Gjelten’s book released this year, the Bacardi family had a long history of authentic Cuban patriotism. They had a prominent role not only in overthrowing colonial Spain in Cuba’s war for independence but also in opposing the dictator Fulgencio Batista, Castro’s thuggish predecessor. As employers, Bacardi had a strongly liberal bent, supporting high labor standards and progressive tax policies.

In fact, before it became clear that Fidel Castro would turn Communist and betray his promise to restore democracy and constitutional rule in Cuba, several members of the Bacardi family actually assisted the revolutionaries in the Sierra Maestra from the family’s base in Santiago. In the immediate year after Castro assumed power, the family donated generously to the country’s treasury, which had been depleted by Batista.

It was all a tragic mistake, of course, with Castro’s rule leading to the impoverishment and repression of Cuba’s population. As with the rest of private enterprise on the island, Bacardi’s Cuba operations were nationalized, and most of its employees fled.

Since their time in the US they have lobbied and donated to right-wing politicians and have supported the CANF and its toxic ideas. That’s really unfortunate, as Matt rightly points out, though I can’t quite bring myself to embrace a boycott.
NYC_Charles Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 2:13 pm
I would recommend Ron Zacapa from Guatemala. It won best rum in the world so many times that they booted it out of the competition.
Tim Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Done and done.

I will no longer drink Bacardi unless and until they change course.

These other rums sound intriguing…
jd Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Flor is the best, and if you ever stop through Nicaragua or El Salvador on a trip (a San Salvador stop is surprisingly common if you’re headed to South America) you can get bottles of the 7-year for less than 10 bucks a pop.
Tim Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 7:12 pm
As I was planning to buy some rum today, I did in fact buy Flor today. It was a little hard to find amongst the wall of different Bacardi products, but I was happy to buy it all the same.
Daddy Love Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 8:12 pm
I don’t have the history of the various Cuban rum makers close at hand, for some odd reason. I do have two observations, and one is just my own cantankerous “why are you such an incredibly poor speller?” stuff:

1. It’s Bacardi. Jesus.

2. Drink Jamaican. Cubans are posers.

Hah! That felt good.
Paul Camp Says:
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:39 pm
I would switch right away if I didn’t think that rum is nasty.
jack Says:
January 4th, 2009 at 4:16 am
Any decent brand of Cachaca – Light Rum
Flor de Caña Gold Rum – General Purpose Rum
Flor de Caña Grand Reserve 7 – Premium Aged Sipping Rum
Sailor Jerry – Spiced Rum
Gosling Black Seal – Dark Rum

‘All you need
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