HAMILTON, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BACARDI Rum, the world's favorite and best-selling premium rum, celebrates the 110^th anniversary of the creation of the Original Cuba Libre. With its refreshing combination of BACARDI Rum and the American classic Coca-Cola™ and rich historical ties to Cuba, this legendary drink has withstood the test of time and continues to be enjoyed by millions of consumers internationally.

The origins of the Original Cuba Libre trace back to Cuba’s War for Independence in 1898, when Colonel Theodore Roosevelt and his regiment, known as the Rough Riders, along with large droves of Americans arrived in Cuba. American troops introduced Coca-Cola™ to Cuba, and it soon became a popular choice for Cubans and Americans alike.

In August 1900, while celebrating victory at the American Bar in Havana, Cuba, Captain Russell of the United States Army Signal Corps, ordered his Cuban BACARDI Rum and Coke®, served with a wedge of fresh lime. This new combination sparked interest from the soldiers around him and soon the entire bar was drinking one. The Captain proposed a toast, “¡Por Cuba libre!” in celebration of a free Cuba. The words Cuba Libre – meaning Free Cuba – had a special political significance, and were frequently used by Cubans and Americans alike. It seemed quite natural that the American soldiers selected and applied this popular slogan to this drink, which they considered indigenous to Cuba, consisting of BACARDI Rum and Coca-Cola™. The name caught on quickly, and has remained popular to this day.

“More than 80 billion BACARDI Cuba Libre cocktails have been served since 1900, and close to 6,000,000 are consumed every day around the world,” said Eugenio Mendez, Global Category Director – Rums for Bacardi. “The fact that the Cuba Libre cocktail continues to gain popularity after more than 100 years speaks to the exceptional quality and great taste BACARDI adds to this iconic drink.”

Don Facundo Bacardí revolutionized the world of spirits when he created BACARDI Rum, known for being an innovator. As the ultimate mixing spirit, BACARDI Rum went on to become the original rum used to create legendary cocktails like the Mojito, the Daiquirí, and the Piña Colada. For nearly 150 years, through eight generations of Don Facundo’s descendants, Bacardi has focused on quality, taste and excellence.

Original Cuba Libre

2 parts BACARDI Rum

4 parts Coca-Cola™

2 lime wedges

Ice cubes

Fill a highball glass with cubed ice. Squeeze and drop a fresh lime wedge into the glass. Pour in BACARDI Rum and top with chilled Coca-Cola™, ideally bottled. Stir gently.

Original BACARDI Mojito

2 parts BACARDI Rum

½ fresh lime

12 mint leaves

2 heaped tsp. fine white sugar

Splash club soda

Cut the lime in wedges and place in a large highball glass. Add the sugar and muddle to release the lime juice. Add the mint leaves and muddle lightly again to release and combine the flavors. Top up with crushed ice. Pour BACARDI Rum. Swizzle well with a bar spoon to dissolve the sugar. Top up with more crushed ice. Add soda water. Stir well again to combine all the ingredients and garnish with a fresh mint sprig.

BACARDI Hand-Shaken Daiquirí

2 parts BACARDI Rum

1 part fresh lime juice

2 heaped tsp. fine white sugar

Put all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and stir until the sugar dissolves. Fill shaker with ½ cubed ice and ½ crushed ice and shake vigorously until chilled. Double strain into a chilled or frozen glass.

BACARDI Piña Colada

2 parts BACARDI Rum

1 ½ parts fresh coconut water blended with some of the flesh

1 part pineapple juice

3-4 chunks fresh pineapple

3 tsp. fine white sugar

Combine all ingredients in a blender with ½ cup of crushed ice. Blend until smooth. Can be shaken and strained if a blender is unavailable or a less “smoothie-like” texture is preferred.

For additional recipes, please visit www.bacardi.com.

About BACARDI Rum - BACARDI Rum tops more than 300 awards and is the world’s most awarded rum.

In 1862, in Santiago de Cuba, founder Don Facundo Bacardí Massó revolutionized the spirits industry when he created the world’s first premium white rum – BACARDI. The unique taste of BACARDI Rum inspired cocktail pioneers to invent some of the world’s most famous drinks including the Mojito, the Daiquirí and the Cuba Libre. Today, BACARDI Rum is made in Puerto Rico and Mexico where it is crafted to ensure that the taste remains the same today as it did when it was first blended in 1862.

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www.Bacardi.com

BACARDI AND THE BAT DEVICE ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF BACARDI & COMPANY LIMITED.

NOTE: .JPG images of the Cuba Libre cocktail with BACARDI Rum are available upon request or via BusinessWire. The new BACARDI True Originals video is also available at www.youtube.com/trueoriginals or via BusinessWire.

In addition, BACARDI has launched a Mix Master iPhone application, available for download at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mix-master-by-bacardi/id333673038?mt=8. To view demo video for the new application please visit http://www.youtube.com/user/BacardiMixMaster.

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