百加得波多黎各酒厂斥资数百万美元扩建 五年累计投资超1亿美元

Puerto Rican rum distillery Bacardí has opened its barrel warehouses to the public for the first time following a multi-million-dollar expansion.

The move coincides with the company’s 90th anniversary in Puerto Rico, where it operates the world’s largest premium rum distillery. This latest expansion brings Bacardí's total investment in its home market to more than US$100 million in the past five years. The brand’s Casa Bacardí visitor centre opened in 1961 and is said to be the second most-visited venue in metro San Juan with nearly 160,000 visitors a year. Bacardí noted that its new warehouses use technology and recycled materials to reduce impact and improve efficiency, at the same time as increasing ageing capacity. The expansion has also created an undisclosed number of additional jobs at the site. Furthermore, visitors will be able to join a new 90-minute Maestro’s Walk tour, allowing participants to sample rum straight from the barrel and learn about the science of ageing and blending. “This investment represents our ongoing commitment to producing exceptional rums and preserving the craftsmanship that has defined Bacardí for generations,” said Edwin Zayas, senior director of supply chain for Bacardí in Puerto Rico and Jacksonville. “By continuing to invest in our world-class facilities and visitor experiences, we are honouring our heritage while offering new ways for consumers to experience the art of rum making.” Bacardí was founded by Don Facundo Bacardí Massó on 4 February 1862 in Santiago de Cuba. In the 1930s, the company expanded production outside Cuba, including to Puerto Rico. The brand’s namesake parent company, Bacardi, was founded in 1936. It claims to be the largest privately held spirits company in the world with its portfolio including Grey Goose vodka and Dewar's whisky. The firm recently took full ownership of Dublin-based Irish whiskey Teeling.