Bacardi 151

"151 rum" redirects here. For the song by J.I.D, see 151 Rum (song).

Bacardi 151 was a brand of highly alcoholic rum made by Bacardi Limited of Hamilton, Bermuda. It is named for its alcohol concentration level of 151 U.S. proof, that is, 75.5% alcohol by volume. This is much higher than typical rum, which averages around 35%–40% alcohol by volume. Bacardi 151 was manufactured in Puerto Rico[1] to be sold in the United States and Canada from at least 1963 until 2016, when its production was discontinued.[2][3]

Safety and lawsuits

Because of its high alcohol content, Bacardi 151 was particularly flammable among liquors. For this reason it was often used as the ignition source for "flaming shots"[4][5] and even for at-home pyrotechnic stunts.[6] The bottle carried a warning label advising consumers, among other things, "do not use this product for flaming dishes or other drinks." Bottles were also equipped with a stainless steel flame arrester crimped onto the neck of the bottle to prevent the rum inside the bottle from igniting. Nevertheless, Bacardi faced at least two lawsuits from consumers who claimed to have been badly injured by the product's flames.[7][8]

Bacardi 151 was discontinued in 2016.[1]

As of May 2026, the Bacardi website maintains a page dedicated to "The legend of Bacardi 151," and mentions the known flammability of the alcohol as a reason that the "situation escalated," but does not go into further detail.[9] While the company never issued a formal statement regarding the product's discontinuation, it has been speculated that "it's a pretty good guess that Bacardi got sick of being sued."[3]

Mixed drinks

Bacardi 151 was typically used in sweet drinks, such as the Hurricane and Caribou Lou, which combine rum and fruit juices.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Freedman, Brian (5 May 2026). "Do You Know Where the 12 Strongest Liquors in the World Come From?". Food & Wine. Archived from the original on 2025-12-03. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  2. ^ Brazilian Bulletin, Volume 19, page 111
  3. ^ a b Dent, Bryan (January 12, 2017). "Bacardi 151 Flames Out". Brutal Hammer. Modern Drunkard. Archived from the original on 2024-12-01. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  4. ^ "Four Flaming Drinks". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13.
  5. ^ "Flaming Shot of Bacardi 151". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13.
  6. ^ "Fire Breathing – Bacardi 151". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13.
  7. ^ "Flaming rum gets Bacardi in hot water". msnbc.com. 2006-07-26. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  8. ^ Gregorian, Dareh (2008-11-21). "MOLOTOV COCKTAIL". New York Post. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  9. ^ "The Legend of Bacardi 151 Rum". Bacardi.com. Retrieved 2026-05-16.
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