August 31, 2006
Dejando Al tiempo Lo Que Es Del Tiempo
In 1927, Bacardi's Santiago Brewing Company launched Hatuey Beer. Chairman Don Enrique decided Hatuey would be a premium-priced beer. He had no intention of taking on the other domestic beers, on the basis of price, so he looked for what today is called a niche. In fact, the niche would eventually grow to occupy more than half of the Cuban beer market. "Dejando al tiempo lo que es del tiempo" (leaving to time what is the work of time), Enrique referred to Hatuey as his "pretty little fiancé".
It was named after a Dominican Indian chief know as "El Cacique de Guajabá" who led a local resistance to Diego Velazquez in Cuba's Oriente province in the early sixteenth century. Ultimately burned at the stake in Baracoa, his name became synonymous with the struggle for Cuban Independence.
Before his execution at the stake a Spanish Friar tried to convert him to Christianity. Hatuey asked the Friar if in heaven there were Christians. The Friar told him that only Christians were allowed to enter heaven. Hatuey displayed some early "Cuban" attitude, and responded that he then would rather not convert since he didn't want to go anywhere the Spanish were.
Read more about the history of Bacardi's Hatuey Beer here.
Posted by Ziva at August 31, 2006 12:12 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.babalublog.com/cgi-bin/mt/hut.cgi/3899
Comments
I'll never forget hearing the story of Hatuey from my dear old Abuelo, who despised both the Spanish (his own dad had been a Mambi) and the Roman Catholic Church...he loved the story of Hatuey telling some Spanish priest to shove it.
Posted by: Rubini ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.babalublog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at August 31, 2006 01:39 AM
Looks like Ernesto put some of us in reminiscing mood yesterday. I'm right there with you.
I too remember hearing this story from my mother. I am an evangelical Christian, but love my Roman Catholic brothers. I sometimes teach at my church (mostly "Americanos") and I have used this story several times to illustrate how we (Christians) leave a bad taste in peoples mouths. It always makes people cringe to hear this story.
As far as the actual beer, when Bacardi released the beer in the 90's, it made me long for the real thing, which we never got to get a taste of. It's good to remember our rich heritage. It just sucks that we got ripped off and didn't get to taste the authentic Hatuey.
Posted by: Marquito at August 31, 2006 08:53 AM
Hey its great to read about Hatuey, since my father was in charge of the shipping and distribution dept. out of Manacas,Cuba brewery.
Til this day I remember going there and drinking Malta Hatuey from the barrel faucet.
My father is still around in spirit I guess, and his sons have not forgotten.
This is still Barcadi property, just in case any little Cubanito's from Cuba think they are going to keep it.
-RJB
Posted by: Hatuey at August 31, 2006 10:05 AM
I'm not much of a bear drinker, but I do love my malta Hatuey. I remember as a child for the "merienda" my mother used to give us malta Hatuey with "leche condensada." The taste of it always takes me back to those happy days.
Posted by: Firefly at August 31, 2006 10:43 AM
My brain has also gone begging this morning...
I'm not much of a beer drinker not "bear."
Posted by: Firefly at August 31, 2006 10:47 AM
How is Hatuey pronounced? "ah-twey"?
Posted by: h0mi at August 31, 2006 02:37 PM
h0mi,
That's close enough.
Posted by: Firefly at August 31, 2006 03:00 PM
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)
