Mark your calendars, it’s just about time for enthusiasts from around the world to invade Miami for the week long celebration that is Rum Renaissance.
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A Week of Rum Fun in Miami
Two years ago we attended what we thought would be a small gathering of rum aficionados in Miami. Back then, Rum Renaissance was a 3-day event with a few VIP parties, a tasting competition and a one-day Grand Tasting at the Shore Club in Miami Beach. It turned out to be a huge party far beyond our expectations with hundreds of attendees enjoying excellent rums from around the world in a perfect tropical atmosphere.
Last year, Rum Renaissance upped the ante even more and doubled in size and awesome-ness. It turned into a 5-day event with VIP parties kicking off on Wednesday and running for the duration of the week. The Rum XP Tasting Competition was held on Thursday and Friday followed by a giant Grand Tasting event that went down on the grounds of the beachfront Raleigh Hotel. Add to that a series of workshops, seminars and The International Tiki Face-Off and it was an exhausting and wonderful several days of rummy goodness in Miami.
Well, Rum Renaissance is back and is guaranteed to be better than ever. This year, the event will stretch from April 25th-May 1st, a full week of rum fun in Miami Beach. It kicks off with a brand new event, The Zombie Jamboree, which will be held at Mai Kai, the legendary Ft. Lauderdale tiki hangout. Jeff “Beachbum” Berry will hold his graduate studies seminar on the origins of the Zombie cocktail followed by a Zombie competition with amateurs and professionals whipping up their best drink to be judged by an esteemed panel of tiki gurus.
The action continues throughout the week with the Rum XP holding their annual Tasting Competition. Over 100 nominated rums from around the world will be judged with awards being announced later in the week. A variety of VIP rum parties are scheduled at some of Miami’s top clubs from Tuesday throughout the weekend.
The Grand Tasting will be hosted at the beautiful Deauville Beach Resort and has been expanded to a two-day affair. It promises to be more elaborate than ever with hundreds of rums from around the world on display for everyone to sample and enjoy.
Barritt’s Ginger Beer is once again holding the final round of their Cocktail Competition at Rum Renaissance to see who can create the best new Barritts’s cocktail. The International Tiki Face-Off is back with the UK Tiki Team set to defend their title against a group of the world’s top bartenders. Finally, an unbeatable lineup of educational seminars will be presented by some of the industries top experts throughout the Grand Tasting.
Of course, it’s Miami, so there’s always plenty of opportunity to keep yourself busy exploring the city, or just take a moment to enjoy the sun and chill out by the pool. This event has become a must on our rummy social agenda and we look forward to seeing everyone there!
For full event details, check out the Rum Renaissance website.
