Rum · Cuba · since 1862

Bacardi

The world's best-known white rum and the base of the Mojito, Cuba Libre and Daiquiri. Everything about the types, flavor and how to enjoy it best – plus the right glass to serve it in.

White rum37.5% alcoholCuba · Puerto RicoLight & softly sweet
NIX18 - No 18, no alcohol
Bottle of Bacardi Carta Blanca 70 cl
37,5%alcohol · 70 cl
What is Bacardi?

White rum from Cuba, the bar's foundation for more than 160 years

Bacardi was founded in 1862 by Facundo Bacardí Massó in Santiago de Cuba. He was one of the first to filter rum through charcoal and age it in oak, creating a light, smooth rum that is excellent for mixing. That is precisely why Bacardi is now the standard choice for white rum cocktails.

The brand left Cuba in 1960 and now produces mainly in Puerto Rico. The standard bottle, Bacardi Carta Blanca, is available in the Netherlands at 37.5% alcohol. There are also golden and dark variants, a spiced rum and fruity versions such as Razz and Limón.

In brief

TypeRum (white rum)
Alcohol37.5% (Carta Blanca)
OriginFounded in Santiago de Cuba, now distilled in Puerto Rico
BaseSugarcane molasses
AgingAt least 1 year in American oak, charcoal filtered
GlassLong drink glass for cocktails, tumbler for drinking neat
Types

What types of Bacardi are there?

Bottle of Bacardi Carta Blanca 70 cl

Carta Blanca

37.5% · white rum

The classic: light, smooth and slightly vanilla-flavored. The base of almost every rum cocktail.

Best for: Mojito, Daiquiri, Cuba Libre
Bottle of Bacardi Carta Oro 70 cl

Carta Oro

37.5% · golden rum

Slightly fuller than Blanca, with caramel and a rounder, warmer flavor.

Best for: Cuba Libre, Mai Tai
Bottle of Bacardi Carta Negra 70 cl

Carta Negra

37.5% · dark rum

Dark and rich: tropical fruit, vanilla and a hint of toasted wood.

Best for: Rum & cola, Rum Punch
Bottle of Bacardi Spiced 70 cl

Spiced

35% · spiced rum

Aged rum with vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg, with a smoky note.

Best for: Spiced & cola, Spiced Mule
Bottle of Bacardi Razz 70 cl

Razz

32% · raspberry rum

White rum with raspberry: sweet, fruity and made for mixing.

Best for: Razz & lemon, shots
Bottle of Bacardi Limón 70 cl

Limón

32% · citrus rum

White rum with lemon, lime and grapefruit. Fresh and slightly bitter.

Best for: Limón & tonic, Lemon Drop
Bottle of Bacardi Reserva Ocho 70 cl

Reserva Ocho

40% · aged 8 years

Aged for at least eight years: plum, apricot and oak. Neat or on the rocks.

Best for: Neat, Old Fashioned
Not sure?

For 9 out of 10 cocktails, Carta Blanca is the right choice.

To the cocktails →
What does Bacardi taste like?

Light, soft and slightly sweet

Nose

Vanilla & a hint of coconut

Soft and clean, without the harsh alcohol smell of cheap white rum.

Palate

Softly sweet, lightly fruity

Sugarcane, a touch of almond and tropical fruit. Light-bodied, making it ideal for mixing.

Finish

Short and clean

A gentle warmth and a dry finish, leaving plenty of room for lime and mint in a cocktail.

Sweet 3/5
Fruity 2/5
Spicy 1/5
Woody 1/5

Bacardi Carta Blanca flavour profile. Carta Oro and Reserva Ocho are fuller and woodier.

How to drink it

Three ways to drink Bacardi

From simple to celebratory. Each way calls for a different glass - it really makes a difference to the aroma and temperature.

Neat or on the rocks

Choose Reserva Ocho or Carta Oro and pour 40 ml into a tumbler with one large ice cube. Small ice melts too quickly and dilutes the rum.

Glass: tumbler →

Bacardi cola

50 ml Carta Blanca, 150 ml cola, plenty of ice and a lime wedge in a highball glass. Squeeze the lime in, and it is called a Cuba Libre.

Glass: highball glass →

In a cocktail

Mojito, Daiquiri or Piña Colada: white rum is the most versatile cocktail base there is. Always Carta Blanca, always well chilled.

To the cocktails ↓
From the webshop

The right glass for Bacardi

A Mojito belongs in a highball glass, a Daiquiri in a coupe and Reserva Ocho in a tumbler. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.

Delivered 100% breakage-free
Schott Zwiesel Banquet highball glass 54 cl, set of 6
For Mojito & Cuba Libre

Schott Zwiesel Banquet Long Drink Glass

Set of 6 · 54 cl · weighted base, ideal for muddling
€ 40,50View
Schott Zwiesel Bar Special coupe 28 cl, set of 4
For Daiquiri

Schott Zwiesel Bar Special Coupe

Set of 4 · 28 cl · wide vintage bowl for shaken cocktails
€ 39,95View
L.S.A. Borough tumbler 30 cl, set of 4
For neat & on the rocks

L.S.A. Borough Tumbler

Set of 4 · 30 cl · the all-rounder, also for whisky on the rocks
€ 41,95View
Speakeasy cocktail set black, 4-piece
For the Mojito

Speakeasy Cocktail Set Black

4-piece matte black bar kit for your home bar
€ 88,95View
Frequently asked questions

Everything you still wanted to know about Bacardi

Is your question not listed? Check out our cocktail recipes or get in touch.

To the cocktail recipes →
What percentage of alcohol is in Bacardi?
In the Netherlands, Bacardi Carta Blanca contains 37.5% alcohol. The fruity Razz and Limón varieties are 32%, Spiced is 35% and the aged Reserva Ocho is 40%.
Is Bacardi white or brown rum?
Both. The best-known bottle, Carta Blanca, is a white rum: after ageing, it is charcoal-filtered, removing the colour and keeping the flavour light. Carta Oro and Carta Negra are gold and dark rums, while Reserva Ocho is an aged brown rum.
Where does Bacardi come from?
Bacardi was founded in Santiago de Cuba in 1862. The family left Cuba in 1960; today, most Bacardi is distilled in Cataño, Puerto Rico. Its headquarters are in Bermuda.
Which Bacardi do you use for a Mojito?
Carta Blanca. Its light, smooth flavour lets the mint and lime take centre stage. Allow 50 ml per glass and use a long drink glass with a thick base, so you can safely muddle the mint.
What is the difference between Carta Blanca and Carta Oro?
Carta Blanca is a white rum: light, fresh and charcoal-filtered. Carta Oro (gold) is aged longer in oak, giving it more colour and flavour: caramel, vanilla and a rounder finish. Blanca is the cocktail base, while Oro is better neat or in a Cuba Libre.
How long does an opened bottle of Bacardi keep?
Rum does not spoil. An opened bottle stays good for years if you store it upright, tightly closed and out of direct sunlight. After a year or two, it slowly loses some aroma, especially if only a small amount remains and there is a lot of air in the bottle.