The Spirit of Bacardi Graphic Novel
The Spirit of Bacardi Graphic Novel

What better way to bring out Bacardi’s Cuban heritage, than through a graphic novel? Nothing better I say, nothing! So as a way of retelling the amazing story of the Bacardi family in Cuba, Bacardi has announced the launch of a spectacular graphic novel, a first by any global brand! This really cool looking graphic novel is aptly titled The Spirit of BACARDÍ. To create this, BACARDÍ has collaborated with two of the most iconic names in the world of graphic novels: writer Warren Ellis and artist Michael Allred (who BTW added drops of BACARDÍ Gold rum to the inks so that the illustration looks real. Like really really real!)

Bacardi Graphic Novel
Bacardi Graphic Novel

Working on this project gave me the chance to bring to life a time and a place I’ve never worked with before – Cuba in the late nineteenth century,” said Allred. “I loved the idea of adding BACARDÍ rum to the ink to make it a real part of the graphic novel’s DNA. It’s something I have never done before and makes the artwork unique.”
Ellis said, “Storytelling requires great characters, and in Emilio Bacardí, we have exactly that. Emilio was a patriot, passionate about his homeland of Cuba. My focus was to bring his drive and determination to life.”

Spirit Of Bacardi
Spirit Of Bacardi

The Spirit of BACARDÍ focuses on Emilio Bacardí – son of founder Don Facundo Bacardí Massó and his tireless work for Cuban independence in the late 1800s. Emilio Bacardí was repeatedly imprisoned and exiled for his belief in an independent Cuba, but persevered, eventually becoming the first freely-elected Mayor of Santiago de Cuba.
The graphic novel also touches upon early challenges the Bacardí family faced and overcame – including an earthquake that destroyed their city and a fire that ravaged their distillery – and ends with the creation of the original Cuba Libre cocktail in 1900. Sounds like a great read! Can’t wait to get my copy, what about you?