Bacardi Logo

Bacardi Logo PNG

Connoisseurs of good rum know that the emblem’s characteristic bat image has been used for three centuries. In Cuba, this bat once symbolized success and health. The Bacardi logo is a tribute to the rich history of the alcohol company, which in 1862 owned an old distillery with a whole brood of bats. At least, that’s what the legends say.

Meaning and History

The recognizable logo of the Bacardi Limited Group features a bat image. For a century, designers only changed the graphic sign style, leaving the brand identity intact.

What is Bacardi?

Bacardi is one of the largest family-owned spirits companies. The same name is given to its main product, Cuban rum. It is made with a special yeast that comes from sugar cane. The first Bacardi distillery opened in 1862.

1862 – 1890

In 1862, the Italian entrepreneur Facundo Bacardi Masso acquired the distillery building. It was so old that fruit bats settled in its rafters. These animals became the prototype for the emblem, taking the central place within a red circle with a black outline. According to another version, the company’s founder was inspired by numerous Cuban legends, in which bats were a symbol of health and success.

the 1890s – 1900

This period is significant in the brand’s history because, for the first time, a spectacular combination of black, burgundy, and gold appeared. Compared to the previous version, the bat has become much more realistic. To do this, the designers drew light spots on the wings along the skeletal bones and added brightness to the front, highlighting the fur. They also colored the ears, eyes, and tip of the nose yellow. The frame near the circle also became golden, with double edging and highlights. Under the widely spaced paws appeared the inscription “Bacardi,” which rests on the right and left against the wings’ sharp ends, as if a bat took the distillery under personal protection.

1900 – 1931

A structured image of a bat appeared on the logo. It shows every scale on the membranes of the wings and every hair of its fur. The head acquired believable features. However, the designers removed the golden color and reduced the size of the animal. They placed two black stripes on the edges of the circle: one wide and one narrow, threadlike. The developers have replaced the word “BACARDI” with the phrase “MARCA DE FABRICA.”

1931 – 1959

The company continued its quest for a realistic logo by adopting a new bat look. Now she is grinning, naturally gray, with large ears. Complemented by a double inscription around: at the top, it is marked “RON BACARDI,” at the bottom – “MARCA DE FABRICA.” The burgundy circle has a gradient and a wide golden line edging.

1959 – 2002

In 1959, the era of realistic images ended. From now on, the bat is depicted in outline. The authors left the same, only the turn of the head to the left and the animal’s size, and the rest was stylized using black and golden colors. The background and border were retained. Compared to previous logos, such an emblem looks more friendly on the label, without aggression.

2002 – 2005

Thanks to the double underline and shadows, the lines are smooth and raised. The 3D effect can be seen in everything: in shape, in the edging, and even in the background, which slightly protrudes above the edge. The gradient on the red remains, as does the traditional combination of black and gold.

2005 – 2010

This logo enhances the embossing effect with a precise centerpiece. The bat looks much more voluminous due to not only shading but also lightening. White lines focus on the wings, legs, head, and body of the animal. Simultaneously, the shadows are mainly present in the border and on the red background, where they serve as a gradient. All strokes are smooth and long. The wings extend beyond the inner circle and merge with it in color.

2010 – 2013

In 2010, another redesign took place. In this version, the designers switched to sharp strokes and curly elements. The clear contours of the Gothic are a thing of the past, so the emblem looks modern. The only thing that has remained unchanged is the combination of black and gold. Otherwise, the redesign has completely revamped the logo. The bat’s head is turned not to the left but the right. The massive wings and tail are increased in size, so they protrude beyond the circle’s outer border. The edging strip is uneven: at the top, it is narrow, and at the bottom, it is wide. Below the icon is the printed lettering “BACARDÍ” with an elegant stroke above the “i” instead of the classic dot.

2013 – today

The last changes took place in 2013. Specialists from the London studio Here Design turned to the historical archives. They combined the three emblems that have been in use from the 1890s to 1931. As a result, they managed to create an authentic image of a bat, close to the classical canons.

Also, the designers have updated the word mark. It now conveys the retro vibe of Cuban Art Deco from the early 1900s that is characteristic of the architecture of Edificio Bacardi’s headquarters in Havana.

Font and Colors

The history of the Bacardi logo is a movement from old to old. This paradox is confirmed by the transition in 2013 to the original design. It was handled by Here Design studio from London. The developers traced the similarities of the first three emblems and proposed a combined version with historical roots. But there is no gold on it – only black, red and gray. The large inscription at the bottom remained.

The word “Bacardi” is written in bold, uppercase. The letters are classic, sans serif, with slight curves. The typeface resembles a sleek Varvara Bold variant. With his help, the designers stylized the text after the decor of the 1900s, characteristic of the Cuban spirit. The colors of the logo are stable and consist of red, black, gray, gold, which appears and disappears from time to time.

Bacardi color codes

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