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Bacardi: A world of brands with a value system

Don Facundo Bacardi was born near Barcelona and emigrated to Santiago de Cuba in 1830, where he founded a small distillery in 1862 at Calle Matadero 57. His wife Amalia discovered a colony of bats under their roof; bats are thought to provide protection for cultural assets by the local Taíno people, the indigenous population of Cuba. In Spain, bats are a symbol of health, happiness and family unity. And so this became the trademark of the new rum – now one of the most renowned logos in the spirits industry.

Bacardi is the world’s biggest privately owned company dealing in spirits, offering over 200 rum, vodka, whisky, gin, vermouth and tequila products which are sold around the world. The main brands include BACARDI Rum, ERISTOFF Vodka, MARTINI Vermouth, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin and GREY GOOSE Vodka. In 1877, Bacardi won their first gold medal for quality at the World’s Fair in Spain, and many more were to follow. In 1910, they opened their first international plant in Barcelona, the family’s hometown. In 1916, another bottling plant in New York followed. In the 1920s, Bacardi acquired a reputation as a symbol of luxury and lifestyle with a special kind of advertising. This holds true even today. The BACARDI Rum brand has become a symbol of the Caribbean and not just because this is where it has its roots; it also brings consumers that much closer to this ‘paradise’.

The Master Class Distillery 2024 received gold for Reserva Ocho, Superior, Spiced & Cola Ready-To-Drink and Reserva Ocho Rye Cask, and silver for Caribbean Spiced, Toasted Coconut Colada Ready-To-Drink, Mojito Ready-To-Drink, Roasted Pineapple Rum Punch Ready-To-Drink and Caribbean Espresso Rumtini Ready-To-Drink.

Edelbrände Ostermann: Old recipes and new creations

Dietmar Ostermann grew up with fruits and the aroma of fine distillates. He has always been interested in distillation. His father’s experience and the skills he learnt at the University of Hohenheim have helped him to implement his ideas, yet he is convinced that the art of distillation can only be learnt through first-hand experience. The senses cannot be taught which path to choose, they need to learn to work it out on their own.

From the outside, the distillery in Sulzbach-Rosenberg in Upper Palatinate doesn’t look like a place where fine distillates are created. The passion for distillation began a long time ago, with great-grandfather Peter in the 1920s. Father Franz ignited the spark in his son Dietmar to carry on the tradition, which was taken on with a modern licensed distillery in 2018. The repertoire has been continued and expanded with his own creations. The bases are either fruit distillates such as damson, Williams pear, raspberry, sloe or blackcurrant, or liqueurs with fruits or herbs. A London Dry Gin with botanicals from the Jura Mountains is one of a number of innovations. This father-son project took shape while another herbal liqueur was in the making. “It’s a lot of fun to develop something new and to experience the explosion of aromas in the distillery when they are set free during maceration and distillation.”

Their own beverage speciality market supports the success of regional direct marketing, and their online shop is also an important factor in helping to make the brand of OSTERMANN Edelbrände better known.

At the World Spirits Award, there was silver for Blackcurrant Spirit, Wild Raspberry Spirit, Hazelnut Liqueur and Damson Brandy Liqueur.