El Floridita and BACARDI Rum El Floridita and BACARDI Rum - Two Pieces of Cuba's History- Two Pieces of Cuba's History

•One of the most famous bars in the world, Cuba's El Floridita first opened in 1817 as La Piña de Plata, or The Silver Pineapple. The renowned landmark, which sits at the corner of Obispo and Monserrate Streets, was serving patrons in Havana as Don Facundo Bacardí Massó was distilling and blending his first rums in Santiago de Cuba in 1862. Both institutions survived the wars for Cuban Independence and saw increased popularity with the influx of American tourists in the early 1900s.

•These visitors soon convinced the owner of La Piña de Plata to change the tavern's name to El Floridita. Additionally, the bar hired a young bartender who revolutionized the art of mixing cocktails in Cuba. El Floridita used many of the Bacardi family's fine local rums to create several signature beverages. One such drink, the E. Hemingway Special, took its name from the famous author, who frequented the bar. According to legend, Hemingway visited El Floridita daily for this hand-shaken BACARDI Daiquiri while writing For Whom the Bell Tolls.