Whenever you mix your Bacardi with a Coke or a daiquiri, you probably wouldn’t give much thought to the remarkable story of the Bacardi company, and how it came to the United States during the tumult of the Cuban Revolution. In his exhaustively researched Bacardi and the Long Fight For Cuba, National Public Radio reporter Tom Gjelten tells the story of the world’s most famous rum distillery.

Gjelten starts by telling Bacardi’s early history, including how it came up with its famous taste. Facundo Bacardi, the first Cuban mayor of Santiago, helped create Cuban style rum, known for its light, dry, smoothness. He used a charcoal system and aged rum in oak barrels, and primarily used molasses from Cuba. Eventually, the system was perfected so the rum did not require exclusively Cuban molasses. Bacardi set up shop in Puerto Rico in 1936 to avoid paying US import fees.

The Cuban company Bacardi did not support the corrupt government of Fulgencio Batista. Bacardi was actually a socially responsible corporation that was sympathetic to union organizers. Bacardi already had revolutionary credentials; company president Emilio Bacardi was deeply involved in the rebellion against Spain, and in the CEO Jose Bosch actually financially supported Castro’s revolutionary activities. Bosch even gave leave for his employees so they could fight against Batista. Vilma Espin, the daughter of a Bacardi lawyer, married Fidel’s brother (and current Cuban President) Raul Castro, and she even knitted caps and stockings for the rebels.

Though they supported Cuban freedom, Bacardi still got nationalized by Fidel Castro in 1960. Bacardi CEO Jose Bosch eventually fled Cuba. The result was Bacardi, like so many other Cuban citizens, became a refugee. The Bacardi family relocated their operations in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Brazil, and the Bahamas. Bacardi fought the Cuban government for its international trademark, and managed to preserve its good name.

Bacardi and the Long Fight For Cuba is fun, full of details, and a comprehensive and colorful portrait of the world’s most famous rum. Now the next time you raise your Bacardi drink for a toast, you’ll know the history behind it!