Friday, August 31, 2018

Spain Blog #66: Sitges: Bacardi Museum Part 5: Mixing our Own Drinks! (and a Recipe)

Rob making his Rum and Coke
                                                    In this last blog about the Bacardi museum in Sitges, Spain you'll read about how we learned to mix the rum drink of our choice! It was actually funny, because I (Rob) don't drink,  but I did mix one in my own way and it was good. In this blog  you'll read about our choice of drink, and our teachable moment where we made our own. And you'll learn what goes into 2 drinks to try them yourself.

Tom making his Mohito

BARTENDER TRAINING- At the end of our Bacardi Museum tour, we wound up at a working bar! Very appropriate ending. It was there that the bartender taught the tour group how to make several drinks, with Bacardi rum of course, and allowed everyone to try them. The bartender made a Mohito, Rum and Coke and a local drink. After tasting the drinks, we were allowed to choose to make either a Mohito or Rum and Coke. The local drink (of which I can't remember the name), was too complicated, so they didn't offer it.

WHAT WE MADE - Tom made a Mohito and I (Rob) made a Rum and Coke. However, since I don't drink, I made it about 2/3rd coke and 1/3rd rum. It was good!

WHAT'S IN A MOHITO? 1/2 of a lime, 2 tsp sugar, 6-8 spearmint leaves, ice. Take all ingredients and crush them with a pestle on the bottom of the glass. Add Bacardi to taste, and soda water. Then garnish with a mint leaf!

WHAT'S IN A RUM AND COKE (well, you can guess 2 ingredients). 1/2 Lime squeezed over ice. Then take the lime and ring the outside rim of the glass, Pour the Bacardi rum for 6 seconds over ice. Take a can of Coca Cola and pour down a spoon into the glass. That prevents it from fizzing! Cut the other 1/2 of the lime in 4 parts and put in the glass.

The drinks we made!
We really enjoyed this tour and recommend it whenever you/re in SITGES!

NEXT: THE FINAL SPAIN TRIP BLOG: A FUN DINNER

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Spain Blog #65: Sitges: Bacardi Museum Part 4: How Rum is Made/Our Funny Taste Test

Testing the Rum in stages
In this fourth blog on our visit to the Bacardi Museum in Sitges, Spain we'll explain how rum is made and the process Bacardi used, and tell you about our funny taste test!

RUM'S THREE INGREDIENTS - We learned that rum is made with sugar, water and yeast.

THE PROCESS - When on the tour, we learned that the mix of the three ingredients are heated. Then, they are filtered through charcoal, which changes their color. Every time they are filtered the mixture gets lighter in color. The first color is golden, and then it gets lighter with each filtration. The final color is a clear liquid. Once at that stage, the mixture is heated again and filtered.

OUR FUNNY TASTE TEST! The docent brought us to a taste test area and set out three glasses before each of the group. Each of them were from different parts of the filtration process.
1) GOLD COLOR - This was from the first stage of filtration and we found it super strong and peppery
2) LIGHT COLOR -This was the second stage of the filtration and we smooth but peppery.
3) CLEAR - This was the final stage of filtration and more peppery.
inside the museum

WHAT WAS FUNNY- We both liked the "light color" or second stage. What's funny is that wasn't the final rum. The final rum, the clear one, and the one we didn't like, was actually the FINAL PRODUCT!  It was funny when the docent asked if everyone agreed that the last one, the clear one, was the best one, and we were the only ones who said "No" - not knowing that we didn't pick the final product! Oooops!!!

NEXT: We Mix Our Own Drinks!

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Spain Blog #64: Sitges: Bacardi Museum Part 3: Beach Statue

Statue on the seaside promenade, the Paseo Marítimo at the beach
The founder of Bacardi Rum, Facundo Bacardí Massó helped put Sitges, Spain on the map. Not only is there a Bacardi museum there, but the city also erected a statue in his honor called “Looking into the Future,” on the seaside promenade, the Paseo Marítimo at the beach. Sitges sits on the Mediterranean coast and this statue of two open hands in a circle frames the beach nicely. In this blog you'll learn about the sculpture!

THE ARTIST AND SCULPTURE- The Sitges-inspired sculpture by artist Lorenzo Quinn is entitled “Looking into the Future.” The one-of-a-kind work has a base of solid stone (using stone from Sitges); on top of which is a large steel circle held up by open hands made of bronze and the Bat, the globally recognized symbol of Bacardi, also known symbol of good luck, fortune and family unity. The base has an embedded plaque with a portrait and explanation of the life and vision of Mr. Massó.

MEANING OF THE CIRCLE AND THE HANDS - The circle symbolises the global dimensions of the brand and the company. The open hands reaching for the sky symbolise letting dreams take flight, with the confidence to succeed.


Replica of the Circle of Hands in the museum













AT THE UNVEILING - His great-great grandson Facundo Bacardi, the Bacardi chairman, joined Sitges Mayor Jordi Baijet to honour his memory with the unveiling of a statue celebrating his life, success, and connections to Sitges.

NEXT: HOW RUM IS MADE and our Funny Taste Test!

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Spain Blog #63: Sitges: Bacardi Museum Part 2: Bat Symbol

When we were on vacation in Sitges,  Spain, we visited the Casa Bacardi, the museum that honors the founder of the rum (he was born in Sitges). In today's blog we'll explain how the bat became the symbol associated with Bacardi Rum. The bat has 2 meanings! Of course,I (Rob) thought it was cool because I'm a fan of the superhero Batman. :)


The Bacardi Bat Symbol changed over time
THE STORY - 
When the founder of Bacardi Rum, Facundo Bacardí Massó and his wife Amalia Moreau moved back to Sitges from Cuba and started the rum making business they needed a symbol for the brand.

WHERE THE BAT CAME FROM - Mrs. Bacardi Masso spotted bats in the distillery one day and suggested it became the brands symbol. There were many bats that were scared away with a buzz. The fruit bats were attracted to the smell of the molasses. 

SECOND REASON FOR THE BAT - The bat figure was fundamental for Bacardi’s brand recognition since back then most people in Cuba couldn’t read or write.

Of course, the bat symbol changed over time,but it's still a bat. In the museum, there's a wall with all of the different depictions over time.

NEXT: THE BACARDI BEACH STATUE

Monday, August 27, 2018

Spain Blog #62: Sitges: Bacardi Museum Part 1: the History

Casa Bacardi
In today's blog we'll take you to the Bacardi factory/museum in Sitges, Spain which was a true highlight of the Mediterranean town. In this blog we'll explain the history of the company... that started in Sitges,Spain and moved to Cuba and came back!

A Sugar Cane Press
ABOUT THE MUSEUM:  Sitges is home to the Casa Bacardi, a museum that tells about the Heritage of the brand and the process. At the museum there is a lounge bar for Bacardi’s products tasting, a terrace and a bartender school. The museum is only open on certain days and you have to reserve tickets at least a day ahead of time (the tours take a limited number of people, I think up to 20, and fill up fast).

FAST FACT: Bacardi is the largest spirits brand in the world that is private and family owned. 

HOW DID BACARDI RUM COME TO BE? Bacardi rum was founded 1862 in Santiago de Cuba as a rum distillery and today it owns over 200 brands and labels.   
A still in the museum
In 1814, the founder of Bacardi Rum, Facundo Bacardí Massó was born in Sitges. His father was a bricklayer.  At 16, he and his brother moved to Cuba in 1803. There, in 1844, he married Amalia Moreau, a wealthy French woman, opened his own mercantile shop and had 6 children.

In 1852, his family returned to Sitges, Spain because Cuba was hit by an earthquake and a cholera epidemic followed it.

THE RUM BUSINESS BEGINS - His mercantile business went bankrupt and Bacardi started attempting distilling rum in 1852. Rum was considered to be a cheap, low quality drink, and Bacardi developed a unique process with a type of yeast for fermentation, then filtering through charcoal and aging in white oak barrels, which made the final product transparent and fine, being the first white colored rum in the world. 

ROB HELPS ON THE TOUR WITH SUGAR CANE- During the tour, the docent brought us to a wooden press with two crank handles and asked for volunteers. Rob stepped up and helped with the press to squeeze the juice out of a stick of sugar cane, which is used in the making of rum.
Rum on the museum wall!
















For the website: 
https://www3.bacardi.com/casa-bacardi-sitges

NEXT: THE BACARDI BAT SYMBOL!



Sunday, August 26, 2018

Idiot of the Week: Rudy Giuliani After He Declares ‘Truth Isn’t Truth’

This week's idiot is (no surprise) Rudy Giuliani. He's been a contender for this award for a long, long time, but this one tops them all.  Rudy Giuliani’s stunning declaration on NBC Sunday that “truth isn’t truth” as he discussed his fears about special counsel Robert Mueller interviewing President Donald Trump galvanized a furious army of critics on Twitter. See below and SEE the Video clip:
Giuliani was warned about the fallout a statement like that could cause. “Mr. Mayor, do you realize ... this is going to become a bad meme,” noted “Meet The Press” host Chuck Todd.

Former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara had a funnier take. “Truth isn’t truth. Try that one with a jury,” he quipped in a tweet.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/CljsZ7lgbtw



Former FBI director James Comey declared: “Truth exists and truth matters. If we are untethered to truth, our justice system cannot function and a society based on the rule of law dissolves.”

Truth exists and truth matters. Truth has always been the touchstone of our country’s justice system and political life. People who lie are held accountable. If we are untethered to truth, our justice system cannot function and a society based on the rule of law dissolves.
King ripped Giuliani as a “rat” thriving in the swamp that Trump had promised to drain, and Rather saw his incredible statement as something that will transfix historians in the future.

Let's not forget that Rudy Giuliani--old Mr. Truth Isn't Truth--worked for Purdue Pharma in 2002. Thanks in part to his efforts, sales of OxyContin continued, and the opioid epidemic was born. Just another rat thriving in the swamp Trump promised to drain.

"Truth isn't Truth" - It is as if Rudy Giuliani revels in writing the book titles for the historians of the future who will have to try to make sense of this President and all that is transpiring under his Administration.

Don’t ever let Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani or the GOP tell you that the TRUTH doesn’t matter. The reason they spend so much time attacking the FBI, Media and Mueller probe is because the TRUTH is exposing their corruption and can send them to jail.
Several tweets said Giuliani’s statement reeked of something an autocrat would say. And countless tweets said “truth isn’t truth” was chillingly evocative of George Orwell’s gruesome dystopian novel 1984, in which the “Ministry of Truth” replaces facts with lies.

Who I am

I'm a simple guy who enjoys the simple things in life, especially our dogs. I volunteer for dog rescues, enjoy exercising, blogging, politics, helping friends and neighbors, participating in ghost investigations, coffee, weather, superheroes, comic books, mystery novels, traveling, 70s and 80s music, classic country music,writing books on ghosts and spirits, cooking simply and keeping in shape. You'll find tidbits of all of these things on this blog and more. EMAIL me at Rgutro@gmail.com - Rob

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