Text: Kenya Tabares Robles

Photos: José Vladimir Pérez García

Santiago de Cuba, August 8th.- Challenging the economic, political and cultural pressures that the government of the United States of America imposes to Cuba, more than a hundred Americans from the “Venceremos” Brigade visit the Greater Antilles . Inspired by the message of solidarity that 50 years ago brigade leaders fly, this batch maintains its position against the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the US to the Cuban people.

In Santiago de Cuba city, they fulfill a program of activities that includes visits to historical and socio-cultural interest places and the Rum Museum, located on the Santiago Rum distillery, was a mandatory stop during their tour.

The brigade members along with Fernando González Llort, President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) and other members of this institution in Santiago subsidiary, were received by Liliana Mengana, General Director of the aforementioned company, belonging to the Cuba Ron SA Corporation, members of the Board of Directors, two Cuban Rum Masters - of the eight that exist in the country -, the Director of the Rum Museum and workers of the institution.

In their tour of the three exhibition halls of the Museum, the members of Venceremos were interested in the history and production process of the Cuban light rum, which cradle is attributed to Santiago de Cuba in 1862, and from that date the land of the Son also defends this attribute of Cuban culture and tradition and keeps it on a high step worldwide.

The Cuban Rum Masters, Tranquilino Palencia Estruch (Tano) and Julio Enrique Ayan Rial, explained that the rum “is not politics or economy, because tradition and culture are not negotiated”, while they sentenced three key elements of the recognized Drink: "Cuban rum can only be made with sugarcane grown in Cuba under the temperature conditions of our country, Cuban rum is based on tradition and the master of Cuban rum can only produce rum in Cuba."

After prolonged applause and cheers, the meeting was sealed by the tasting of the aged rum Santiago de Cuba, which toast showed the bonds of friendship between both peoples and the satisfaction of sharing with the Cubans.

The brigade members also learned that the economic results of the Santiago de Cuba rum industry are received by the Cuban people and that there are several brands of rums each with different assortments.