NASSAU, Bahamas – The BACARDI Store – highlighting the world’s number-one selling premium rum officially opened, Thursday, July 31st its much anticipated retail store on Bay Street in downtown Nassau, Bahamas.
The grand opening featured the international launch of BACARDI® Reserva Limitada, a rare aged rum never before sold outside of its production site in Puerto Rico. The first-of-its-kind BACARDI concept store, under a trademark license agreement with the Bacardi trademark owner, is owned and operated by the Bacardi Nassau-based distributor Bristol Group of Companies Limited.
The BACARDI Store provides an unparalleled experience for spirits consumers – with its premium, sleek design in keeping with the Bacardi image – featuring the Bacardi portfolio of products at duty-free prices and for the first time, a variety of high-end BACARDI branded accessories including hats, shirts, gym bags, umbrellas, towels and other items not available for purchase in any other retail store in the world. Also available at this one-of-a-kind store are premium spirits and branded items from other products in the Bacardi portfolio including GREY GOOSE vodka, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, DEWAR’S Scotch whisky and CAZADORES tequila.
Worker stocks shelves with BACARDI Reserva Limitada at the grand opening of the first-of-its-kind retail store — The BACARDI Store — in Nassau, Bahamas.
(Photo: Business Wire)
The BACARDI Store, just steps away from the cruise ship port and historic Nassau Straw Market, is expected to bring new excitement to the tourist district of Bay Street which is currently experiencing a revitalization effort.
“For many years, I have dreamed of being an active participant in the revitalization of Nassau and in particular Bay Street,” said Juan Bacardi, owner of Bristol Group of Companies Limited. “With the grand opening of The BACARDI Store, I am very excited to lead the charge of the revitalization of the Bay Street business and tourist districts with such a high-end offering. With the clout of the BACARDI name and its international appeal, we’re confident this store will serve as a ‘gateway’ to the east end of Bay Street.”
“With the opening of The BACARDI Store — a truly unique retail destination — we create a visitor experience that showcases the rich history, heritage and passion of the Bacardi spirits portfolio – for both visitors and those who call Nassau home,” said John Esposito, president and chief executive officer of Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. and Bacardi North America, a region which includes the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and The Bahamas. “To commemorate the grand opening of The BACARDI Store we are pleased to announce the international launch of BACARDI Reserva Limitada. This limited edition product is blended from our rarest rums that have been aged in small mature oak barrels for 10 to 16 years. Nassau is the first place this rum will be sold outside of Puerto Rico, where it is produced.”
The BACARDI Store
(Photo: Business Wire)
“Nassau and Bay Street have something very special – as this themed retail outlet is the only branded retail outlet in the world designed solely for the sale of Bacardi products and accessories,” added Joaquin Bacardi, president and chief executive officer of Bacardi Corporation in Puerto Rico and a fifth generation family member who is responsible for managing the day-to-day business operations and marketing for the entire Caribbean region and the islands of the Atlantic.
To celebrate the opening of The BACARDI Store, customers have been able to experience and enjoy a variety of daily in-store product specials and unique tasting events hosted by Willie Ramos, master brand ambassador for BACARDI rums, who has been in Nassau all week from the BACARDI production facility in Puerto Rico, the largest premium rum distillery in the world. Mr. Ramos has been sharing his deep knowledge of rum production, history and the unique tasting aspects of various types of rums with both consumers and hospitality professionals.
Representatives of Bahamas tourism and the Nassau tourism development programs are especially pleased with the establishment of The BACARDI Store.
Bahamas Minister of Tourism and Aviation Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace is enthusiastic. “The fact that a company of the reputation of Bacardi would establish a retail store of this quality in Nassau speaks volumes of their faith in the destination as a premier tourist attraction with the ability to produce solid business. We value our partnership with Bacardi and Bristol, and for our part, we are pulling out all the stops to revitalize our product to provide a high quality visitor experience overall,” Mr. Vanderpool-Wallace said.
Frank Comito of the Nassau Tourism and Development Board lauded Bay Street’s newest commercial entity. “We are working keenly towards the redevelopment of Bay Street to reestablish its reputation as one of the premier tourist shopping destinations of the world. Clearly, a facility like The BACARDI Store will contribute much to cementing that image and providing real value for visitors to Nassau. The Bacardi brand is known and respected worldwide.”
The two-story 3,300 square feet themed retail outlet is the only branded retail outlet in the world designed for the sale of Bacardi products and branded accessories. It will be open six days a week from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and managed by Bahamian-owned and operated Bristol, the Bahamian distributor of BACARDI rums and other fine, premium and super premium spirits in the Bacardi portfolio.
In addition to The BACARDI Store, Bacardi products currently available for sale in The Bahamas – in retail stores, restaurants, bars and clubs – will continue to be available at these locations.
