Updated October 2026
Bacardi is rum, not vodka. Bacardi Superior, the clear bottle most people mean when they ask, is a white rum distilled from sugarcane molasses and bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) in the US. It looks like vodka because it is clear, and it mixes like vodka because it is light, but it comes from a different raw material and meets a different legal definition.
The confusion has a second source. Bacardi Limited, the company, does own a famous vodka: Grey Goose. So the brand name “Bacardi” belongs to a rum, while the company called Bacardi sells rum, vodka, gin, whisky and tequila. This guide sorts out both questions.
The Short Answer
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Bacardi Superior rum or vodka? | Rum. It is a white rum made from sugarcane molasses. |
| What is it made from? | Fermented sugarcane molasses |
| US strength | 40% ABV (80 proof) |
| Where is it made? | Puerto Rico. The company was founded in Santiago de Cuba in 1862. |
| Does the Bacardi company make vodka? | Yes. Bacardi Limited owns Grey Goose vodka, but no vodka carries the Bacardi brand name. |
The Legal Difference Between Rum and Vodka
US labeling law settles the question. The federal standards of identity in 27 CFR Part 5 define rum and vodka as separate classes with different raw materials and different production rules.
| Rule | Rum (27 CFR § 5.147) | Vodka (27 CFR § 5.142) |
|---|---|---|
| Raw material | Sugarcane juice, syrup, molasses or other sugarcane by-products only | Any suitable material: grain, potatoes, grapes, sugarcane and more |
| Distillation strength | Below 95% ABV, so some character of the cane survives | At or above 95% ABV, producing a neutral spirit |
| Barrel aging | Allowed | Not allowed (except in paraffin-lined barrels for bottled-in-bond) |
| Minimum bottling strength | 40% ABV | 40% ABV |
The key distinction is distillation strength. Vodka is distilled so high that almost all flavor from the raw material is stripped away. Rum is distilled below that threshold, so it keeps some of the sweet, grassy or fruity character of sugarcane. Bacardi Superior is distilled from molasses and keeps that character, which places it squarely in the rum class.
Why People Think Bacardi Is Vodka
- It is clear. Bacardi Superior is a white rum. Bacardi ages it in oak and then filters it through charcoal, which removes the color the barrel adds. A clear spirit in a clear bottle reads as “vodka” to many shoppers.
- It is light. Facundo Bacardí Massó built the company on a lighter, cleaner style of rum than the heavy rums common in the 1800s. That light profile means it disappears into mixers almost the way vodka does.
- It sits next to vodka on the shelf. White rum and vodka often share a section at the liquor store and appear in the same mixed drinks.
- The company owns a vodka. Bacardi Limited has owned Grey Goose since 2004. If you have seen “Bacardi” connected to vodka in the news, that is the reason. Read our guide to who owns Grey Goose for the full story.
How Bacardi Tastes Compared With Vodka
Taste the two side by side at room temperature and the difference shows quickly. Vodka is built to be neutral: clean, sharp and mostly about alcohol and texture. Bacardi Superior is light, but it still carries flavor. Expect a soft sweetness, hints of tropical fruit such as banana, a touch of almond or vanilla from the oak, and a dry, clean finish.
That small amount of character is why bartenders reach for white rum rather than vodka for a Daiquiri, a Mojito or a Cuba Libre. The rum adds a gentle sweetness that vodka cannot. For a deeper comparison, read what rum tastes like and what vodka tastes like.
A Short History of Bacardi
On February 4, 1862, Facundo Bacardí Massó, his brother José and partner José León Bouteiller bought a small distillery in Santiago de Cuba. Facundo combined oak aging with charcoal filtration to make a lighter, smoother rum than the market was used to, and the bat on the label became one of the most recognized symbols in drinks.
The company opened a distillery in Puerto Rico in 1936. After the Cuban government expropriated private businesses in October 1960, Bacardi lost its Cuban assets and rebuilt elsewhere. Its large distillery in Cataño, Puerto Rico, known as the Cathedral of Rum, opened in 1958 and remains the home of Bacardi rum today. The company keeps its global headquarters in Hamilton, Bermuda, and descendants of the founding family still control it. Our Bacardi guide covers the full range.
What About Flavored Bacardi?
Bacardi’s flavored bottles, such as Bacardi Pineapple, Coconut and Limón, are still rum-based, but they are often bottled below 40%. Bacardi Pineapple, for example, is 35% ABV in the US. US rules allow a flavored rum down to 30% ABV, so these products carry a “flavored rum” designation rather than plain “rum.” They are lighter in alcohol and usually sweeter than Superior. See our ranking of Bacardi flavors and our guide to what to mix with pineapple rum.
For comparison, two other well-known “rums” do not meet the US definition at all: Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum is bottled at 35% ABV, and Malibu at 21%, both below the 40% minimum for rum. Our guides to Captain Morgan and Malibu explain how they are classified instead.
Can You Use Bacardi Instead of Vodka?
Often, yes. In highballs with soda, juice or tonic, Bacardi Superior swaps in for vodka easily and adds a slightly sweeter, rounder taste. A rum and tonic or a rum and cranberry works well.
It works less well where neutrality is the point. A vodka martini or a drink built around a delicate flavored vodka will taste noticeably different with rum. Going the other direction, replacing rum with vodka in a Mojito or Daiquiri makes those drinks taste flat, because the rum supplies part of their flavor. For ideas, browse our list of the best Bacardi mixers.
How Strong Is Bacardi?
At 40% ABV, Bacardi Superior has the same strength as standard US vodka. A 1.5-ounce pour equals one US standard drink of 14 grams of alcohol, and a 750 mL bottle holds about 17 standard drinks. Flavored Bacardi at 35% ABV works out to about 0.9 standard drinks per 1.5-ounce pour. For more on serving math, see how much rum it takes to feel the effects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bacardi a vodka brand?
No. Bacardi is a rum brand. The parent company, Bacardi Limited, owns Grey Goose vodka, which is sold under its own name.
Is Bacardi white rum the same as vodka?
No. Both are clear and both are 40% ABV in the US, but rum must be made from sugarcane and distilled below 95% ABV, while vodka is distilled to neutrality from any material.
Is Bacardi gin or tequila?
Neither. Bacardi Limited owns gin and tequila brands, including Bombay Sapphire and Patrón, but the Bacardi label itself is always rum.
Is Bacardi Caribbean rum?
Yes. Bacardi rum is produced in Puerto Rico. Read our guide to Caribbean rum for more on the region’s styles.
More in our Rum Guide.
Sources
- 27 CFR § 5.147, Rum, and § 5.142, Neutral spirits and vodka (eCFR, current).
- 27 CFR § 5.151, Flavored spirits: minimum 30% ABV (eCFR, current).
- Bacardi Superior: 40% ABV, per US state retail listing (Virginia ABC).
- Bacardi company history: 1862 purchase in Santiago de Cuba, 1936 Puerto Rico distillery, 1958 Cataño distillery, 1960 expropriation (Difford’s Guide, Casa Bacardi history).
- Bacardi Limited corporate information: headquarters in Hamilton, Bermuda; family ownership; brand portfolio.
- NIAAA: definition of a US standard drink (14 grams of pure alcohol).