As for Bacardi? Great memories. But Not Puerto Rican. Support Don Q.
Bacardi has deep ties to the island — there’s a major distillery in Cataño and many of us grew up on it — but it’s not a Puerto Rican-founded or Puerto Rican-owned company. Your affection for it doesn’t make it ours. If your aim is to help build Puerto Rico’s economy, choose Don Q — Destilería Serrallés in Ponce — a family-owned rum maker on the island since 1865. That’s real local heritage. That’s money staying home.
Nightcap swap idea: Don Q instead of Bacardi. Coquito? Make it with Don Q and toast to homegrown taste. This isn’t about shaming — it’s about evolving. I loved Bacardi in my teens and I'm talking that dark side of Bacardi, that 151 Bacardi, iykyk. And coquito with Bacardi is a frozen hymn in my memory. But once I learned the history and the economics, I felt stupid for staying comfortable. That anger turned into action. I’m not interested in being complicit anymore — I’m part of the solution.
This is a call to grow up as consumers and as a community: preferences evolve. Politics and identity don’t stop at family recipes. If you love Puerto Rico, show it.
Practical swaps — AM to PM (quick starter list)
Morning: Bustello → Puerto Rican-grown coffee (single-origin or small-batch roasts). Start with the coffee hub link above.
Midday: Instant/cheap canned blends → Local micro-roasters’ whole-bean espresso or ground blends. Freshness + direct support.
Evening: Bacardi → Don Q (Destilería Serrallés) or other island-owned spirits.*
Parties/Host gifts: Bring a Puerto Rican coffee sampler or a bottle of Don Q — you’ll be educating while you celebrate.
If you think this is petty — think again. This is basic solidarity and economic stewardship. Puerto Rico struggles — disasters, debt, underinvestment — so what those of us off-island can do is at least spend intentionally. The money we spend on coffee and rum is not trivial — it scales. It funds farms, jobs, family businesses, and pride. And just because PuertoRico is home to the world's biggest distillery, Casa Bacardi, doesn't mean Puerto Ricans see any increase in prosperity. Like all other major companies, what they decide to donate never really helps the people.
Final word — we can be better than convenience
We’re not asking you to sacrifice flavor or fun. We’re asking you to choose who you want to be: a passive consumer or an active supporter of our raza. Nostalgia is beautiful. Accountability is better. The island deserves our dollars, our attention, and our loyalty.
Start today. Swap one thing. Tell your familia. Throw out the autopilot and choose intentionally.
You in or what? ¡Apoya lo nuestro! Start your morning bootstrapping right here
👉 PuertoRicoCoffeeHub — Puerto Rican ground coffee combos
Sincerely,
Una Boricua who’s done being complicit.
*FULL LIST OF PUERTO RICAN-OWNED SPIRITS:
Here’s a list of Puerto Rican rum brands from the Wikipedia page you linked: (Wikipedia)
Ron Pizá
Ron Llave
Ron Candado
Ron Tres Estrellas
Ron San Isidro
Ron Cañón
Ron Portela
Ron Granado
Ron Palo Viejo
Ron del Barrilito
PitoRico
Don Q
Blackbeard Spiced Rum
Boca Chica Rum
Caliche Rum
Scryer Rum
Crab Island Rum
Ron 738
Ron Delicias
Ron El Campesino
Ron El Invencible
Ron Imporico
Ron Latino
Ron Mister Kuba
Ron Oro Nativo
Ron Patria y Cuna
Ron Rey de Copas
Ron Superior Escudo
Ron Superior Puerto Rico
Ron Caneca
Ron Toro Negro
Ron Yagüez
Trigo Reserva Añeja
Ron Castillo
Marin
Ron Pascual
Three Captains
This isn’t nostalgia or moral grandstanding. It’s a cold, sharp, grown-up truth: buying what looks familiar isn’t the same as backing our people. We’ve made a comfort habit out of certain brands — Bustello in the morning, Bacardi at night — and yeah, I get it. That stuff raised a lot of us. But once you know better, you do better. That’s not optional; it's common sense.
So this is your wake-up call: from AM to PM, let’s do a total reset. Trade that imported brand you reach for automatically and put that money, loyalty, and pride where it belongs — back into Puerto Rico.
Why this matters and why you should care
It’s not just “preference.” Purchasing is political. It’s economic muscle. When we buy outside our communities, we’re pouring money into other people’s economies — not ours.
Visibility matters. Supporting Puerto Rican companies grows jobs, keeps local traditions alive, and builds the infrastructure our island desperately needs.
Complicity isn’t cute. If you live off the island (like many of us), you can still choose to stop being an enabler of convenience and start being an ally with your wallet. That’s not hard. It’s choice.
Bustello? Nice memory — not the movement we need
Bustello is a staple in many Boricua homes — I get emotional about that too — but nostalgia doesn’t pay bills for small Puerto Rican producers. If you want that heavy, soulful coffee body in your cup, try Puerto Rican-grown coffee from producers who actually farm and invest on the island.
👉 PuertoRicoCoffeeHub — Puerto Rican ground coffee combos
Swap the jarred, mass-market option for one that gives direct economic support to our growers. Your morning ritual is a vote — cast it for our people.
