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José Arechabala

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José Arechabala
File:JoseArechabala.png
José Arechabala Aldama
Born(1847-11-09)9 November 1847
Gordexola, Biscay, Spain
Died15 March 1923(1923-03-15) (aged 75)
Cárdenas, Matanzas, Cuba
FamilyCarmen Hurtado de Mendoza y García (wife, married 1874)

Carmela (daughter, born 1879)
José Antonio “Toto” (son, born 1881)
Mercedes (daughter, born 1884)
José Nicolás “Pepucho” (son, born 1885)

Juana (daughter, born 1887)

Don José Arechabala Aldama (9 November 1847 – 15 March 1923) was a Spanish industrialist who, in 1878 in Cárdenas, Matanzas, Cuba, founded the distillery La Vizcaya, that later on became the José Arechabala S.A. conglomerate, that launched the famous Havana Club[1][2][3] rum.

Biography

José Arechabala was born in Gordexola, (Biscay, Spain), sixth son of a baker, whose family had been establised in the village for centuries[4]. He left his home town and fled to Cuba when he was 15, seeking better opportunities. He travelled aboard the ‘’Hermosa de Trasmiera’’ [5], a three-masted topsail frigate licensed in Santander, Spain[6], and took over the role of chief cook after the original was injured during a storm at sea.

Upon landing in Cuba in 1862[7], he was introduced to Antonio Galíndez, a distant relative who happened to be a relevant sugar production and trade businessman in the Matanzas Province, and for whom he would eventually end up working[8]. In 1869 he started working for ‘’Casa Bea’’, a hardware, banking and ship consignment [9] company, owned by Julián de Zulueta, an important politician and industrialist, who later on became the Mayor (‘’Alcalde’’) of Havana. Thanks to his good work he earned Mr. Zulueta’s appreciation and in 1873 he was appointed sole agent of the ventures that Mr.Zulueta had in Cárdenas. In 1874 he married Carmen Hurtado de Mendoza y García, with whom he had five children.

In 1878 he founded a distillery, La Vizcaya[10][11], where he started producing rum and other spirits, leveraging the residue (molasses) of the flourishing Cuban sugar industry. The business prospered in such a way that it was able to cope with the hurricane that struck Cárdenas in 1888[12] and the damages that it produced, that exceeded $50.000 at the time. At the beginning of the 20th century, the factory in Cárdenas already had access to the railway and had been expanded to include several boilers and distillation columns, while the company businesses expanded to include sugar refineries, jam factories, shipyards or even fuel production plants[13]. At the same time, the company dedicated a lot of effort to social improvements in Cárdenas and, among other things, contributed to the paving of streets, provided scholarships for young people from Cardenas and employees' children, or built a theater[14]. In 1919 he was named ‘’Hijo Adoptivo’’ (adopted son) of Cárdenas.

In 1921 the distillery La Vizcaya and the subsidiary companies (sugar refineries, jam factories, shipyards, barrel production, etc.) were incorporated under the name of José Arechabala S.A.[15] and the founder was named chairman. José Arechabala S.A. was the company that launched Havana Club rum in 1934[16], once the prohibition was derogated in December 1933, and continued its production until its plunder by the Cuban revolution on December 31, 1959[1][2][10]. Don José died on March 15, 1923, at 06:30 in the morning, just a few minutes after starting the shift in Arechabala and having sent his offspring to the plant saying ‘’¡A trabajar muchachos, ha sonado el pito!’’[17] (‘‘To work lads, the whistle has sounded!’’). His son-in-law (and nephew) José Arechabala Sainz took over the company after his death, until Sainz's own assassination a few months later in September 1924[18].

References

  1. ^ a b Gjelten, Tom (2008). Bacardi and the long fight for Cuba. New York, USA: Penguin Books. p. 295, 296, 327, 334, 335. ISBN 978-0-14-311632-5.
  2. ^ a b Arechabala, Ramon (13 July 2004). "Testimony of Mr. Ramon Arechabala" (PDF). Senate Judiciary Committee. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  3. ^ Bonera, Miguel (2000). Oro blanco. Una Historia Empresarial del ron cubano. Havana, Cuba: Havana Club. Lugus Libros. p. 78, 91. ISBN 1896266738.
  4. ^ Gutiérrez Rodríguez, Fernando Sigifredo. "Arechabala" (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  5. ^ "José Arechabala Aldama" (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  6. ^ Sanahuja Albiñana, Vicente Luis (2009). "La historia de un Capitán, un velero y un vapor" (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  7. ^ Dale, Michael (7 April 2018). "BWW Review: Immersive AMPARO Tells The Rags To Riches To Revolution Tale Behind Havana Club Rum". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  8. ^ Marqués, Maria Antonia (2002). Las industrias menores: empresarios y empresas en Cuba (1880-1920) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). La Habana: Editora Política. ISBN 978-9-59-010453-4.
  9. ^ Jiménez, Guillermo (1959). Propietarios de Cuba 1958 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). La Habana: Mercié.
  10. ^ a b Lowis, Ulrike (2016). Rum, Geschichte, Herstellung, Sorten und Rezepte (in German) (1st ed.). Cologne, Germany: Komet Verlag. p. 33,34,37,118. ISBN 978-3-86-941678-6.
  11. ^ Moreno Lázaro, Javier (2015). Rum, business and society in Cuba (1832-1965) (1st ed.). Valladolid: Universidad de Valladolid.
  12. ^ Ramos, Luis Enrique (1 March 2013). "El ciclón de 1888 o el Huracán de Faquineto" (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  13. ^ Dollero, Adolfo (1919). Cultura Cubana. La provincia de Matanzas y su evolución. Havana: Imprenta Seoane.
  14. ^ "José Arechabala S.A." (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  15. ^ de la Fe, E.J. (1 August 2013). "Arechabala Industries History. 'Havana Club'". Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  16. ^ Vingtier, Alexandre (6 September 2016). "The story of Havana Club: from its origins to an explosive success!". Rumporter. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  17. ^ "Centenario de Don José Arechabala Aldama". Gordejuela. VIII (412 (página 16)). 1947.
  18. ^ "Desde Cuba. Detalles de un crimen. Suicidio del agresor". La Prensa. Diario de la Mañana. Santa Cruz de Tenerife. 10 de Septiembre de 1924 (in Spanish). XIV (4618). 1924.
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