Manuel Blanco Navarro was a decent
and brave officer who was stationed at Guisa. He tried to mortar me once but obviously that did not work. Another time Blanco called the avioneta on me but the rounds missed....

He later fought Castro and was eventually executed...

What I would like to find out if anybody remembers him and if possible has more information on him than is the present drafts of my book of family memories "Love and War in Cuba."

Not sure if you'll find the answer you're looking for but check this out: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/452842

I'm sure the Bacardi family knows what they're talking about regarding their products. Don't be surprised if they have some of these bottles in their collection.

And to Wahiro: I was thinking about your friend's comment and keep coming back to the same logic - how would resting the bottle on its side help keep the alcohol from evaporating? With wine, that technique is employed to preserve the cork - the liquid being in contact with the cork when resting on its side, keeps the cork moistened, supple, and thus not dryed out. But with this sort of bottle, there's no cork, it's some type of plastic cap that rattles. My thought was to dip the head of the bottle into some molten wax, much like is done with wine bottles, actually. What might your buddy's take on that idea be? Curious to hear!

Cheers,

-AB

Could you do me a favor and tell me as much as you know about a brave man Manuel Blanco Navarro.

Polishing a part of my book "Love and War in Cuba" it has to do with an ambush
at El Paso del Corojo, on El Camino Real that goes past "Pinar del Agua" to the sea.

Would you happen know more about that incident, supposedly Manuel Blanco (or Teniente Morales) were wounded there?

Thanks for that information! I'll get the word out this morning - on its side like a bottle of wine. Cheers!

-AB

I sincerely hope that your friend is right in his predictions because all we see these days is doom and gloom, not a glimmer of hope, no light at the end of the tunnel.

Does your friend know something that we don’t?

Just curious...

We surely need something to revive our hopes like Fidel Castro dropping dead, Raul getting a heat attack while playing with his bodyguards (you know what I mean) because our prayers are not being answered and all we keep doing is burying the old folks that never had the chance to see Cuba free again.

But if your friend is right you’ll see a party in this town the likes never experienced before and never will again.

And I hope your friend invites us to the party but we know that day there’ll be parties all over town that will last several days.