Rum Run to Rum Ren.

The Rum Bus is packed to the roof and patiently idling in front of Rum Connection headquarters.  The road trip to Miami for Rum Renaissance starts right now!! 

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We’ve been talking about it for weeks and the time has finally come to pack up our cameras and computers and make our way north to Miami for the 4th annual Rum Renaissance Festival.

A week of sampling new rums and meeting interesting people is hard work, but as they say, someone has to do it.  The action gets started tonight with a rum tasting and VIP party in Miami Beach and continues all week.  The main event will be held Saturday and Sunday in the ballroom of the Deauville Hotel where hundreds of rums will be on offer for thousands of rabid rum enthusiasts at the Grand Tasting.

We’ll be sure to keep the Rum Connection family fully informed all the way.  Tune in daily for updates of all the rummy action in Miami.  Cheers!

Centenario Celebration

Jimmy Buffett wasn’t the only star in Key West last Friday.  Centenario 7 Años stole the show on the other side of the island at a packed Rum Bar tasting!

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Last Friday was the perfect day to introduce Key West to a new rum.  The skies were clear, the sun was shining and the temperature was 80 degrees.  Island music could be heard drifting out the doors and windows of The Rum Bar as tourists and locals slipped inside to enjoy a cool afternoon cocktail.

Centenario 7 Años was the star of the day and the menu was full of great drinks featuring this newly rebranded Costa Rican rum.  Crowds of people from the Meeting of the Minds music conference circulated through the bar all day sampling everything on the menu and several locals set up in their usual spots out front.  Bahama Bob made drinks at a furious pace, the hours slipped by and by the end of the afternoon everyone was wearing the same cheerful smile.  Centenario 7 was a hit!

Here’s a look at some of the excitement. 

A Party with Centenario 7

Centenario 7 Años from Costa Rica has quickly become one of our favorite Central American rums.  Stop by the Rum Bar in Key West tomorrow to see why.

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There’s no time to recover after a week of Fantasy Fest madness in Key West.  Parrotheads from across the country invade the island this week for their annual Meeting of the Minds music conference.  Tropical themed parties, concerts and drinking sessions are on tap for the next 7 days and it’s all for charity.  Can’t argue with that.

Not wanting to be left out of all the fun, The Rum Bar at 1117 Duval Street is planning to introduce a wonderful new Costa Rican rum, Centenario 7 Años Anejo Especial.  The well-balanced flavor of this rum comes from the careful selection of used whisky barrels and precise blend of aged rums.  It is well known for its versatility and is the perfect rum for sipping and in premium cocktails.

The party is tomorrow, November 4th, from 1-5 and will feature specials on cocktails made with Centenario 7, door prizes, good music and fun people.  Stop by for a taste of this wonderfully balanced and wonderfully priced rum from Central America.  Cheers!

The Story of Denizen

It has been a great year for Denizen Rum.  They’ve scored a gold rating from the BTI and have a rebellious nature in a traditional industry.  Here’s their story.

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A White Rum For The Liberated Spirit

There’s a quiet side street in Amsterdam.  There’s not a lot of traffic and nothing particularly exceptional to set it apart.  But there we found some of the last practitioners of alchemy in the world.

They take relatively common ingredients and turn them into something remarkable.  They’re master blenders of rum and they’ve been doing it since the 1700’s when the bounty of the Caribbean crossed the trade routes in creaking sailing vessels, returning to the old world.

We challenged those master blenders to free the flavor that has been distilled out of rum by mass producers who were intent on dumbing down one of the world’s great spirits.

They took us to Trinidad, where they hand selected individual barrels of white rum, not to be used immediately, but to be aged for 5 more years, maturing, mellowing, and developing complexity in their oaken casks.

Then to Jamaica.  There, they selected 15 different types of pot still rum, the finest examples of this traditional Jamaican method they could find.

And finally they succeeded.  They drew on hundreds of years of experience and tradition to create Denizen.  A truly unique rum, one that refuses to fall prey to the bland, characterless taste of most white rums, or the overpowering taste of some dark rums.

So, who is this remarkable spirit for?  Take a look at the name.  The word Denizen is derived from the latin word Deintus, translated “from within.”  It was widely used between the 17th and 19th centuries to describe free spirited people who traveled around the world seeking new things and exploring new places.

And the “denizens” of the new millenium?  They’re the ones with the courage to find their own way, who refuse to accept life as they find it and insist on shaping it to their own vision.  These are the people for whom we undertook our quest.  For whom we developed a rum that pays homage to our Dutch, Trinidadian and Jamaican heritage, all of which have histories inspired by their Liberated Spirit.

These are the people for whom we created Denizen, a stake in the ground for everyone who believes that their cocktail should have integrity.  Character.  Even, dare we say it, soul.

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Amen!!  If you want to get some of that Denizen soul, swing by The Rum Bar in Key West tomorrow, November 3rd for a day of Denizen Rum and cocktails.  Cheers!

A Taste of Denizen Rum

A blend of aged rum from Trinidad and pot still rum from Jamaica, Denizen is one of the most distinct and complex white rums on the market.  Here’s the scoop.

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The Noble Blend

Denizen is a rebellious blend of three different styles of rum from Trinidad and Jamaica that have been meticulously selected by master blenders in Amsterdam, whose company has been handcrafting Caribbean style rums dating back to the early 1700s when The Netherlands colonized much of the Caribbean.  

The rums included in the final blend primarily include charcoal filtered aged rum from the famed Angostura distillery in Trinidad that have been distilled in continuous column stills and aged up to 5 years in small American oak barrels to impart a rich and refined flavor.  A small component of fresh unaged Trinidadian rum has been combined with trace amounts of an intermediate blend of Jamaican pot still rums consisting of 15 different high ester rums sourced from the Hampden and New Yarmouth Distilleries, providing a firm backbone where the filtered aged rum can lay upon.  

The different production methodologies and cultures that have influenced the craftsmanship of Denizen give the product much more depth and complexity compared to common mixing rums that are thinner with more neutral flavors.  The result is a well-balanced, three dimensional, crystal clear rum that is sure to make cocktails shine.

Denizen is the initial product created by Citizen Spirits, LLC and first launched in the US during March 2010.  It is currently distributed in NY State through MHW LTD (www.mhwltd.com) but can be purchased online via www.drinkupny.com and delivered across the US where legal.  

Next Thursday, November 3rd, you can get a taste of Denizen at the Rum Bar at 1117 Duval St. in Key West, FL.  We’ll be featuring Denizen cocktails, talking Denizen and giving away Denizen door prizes all day long.  Swing by for a taste of this truly unique new white rum.  Cheers!! 

 

Rum XP Tasting Comp Results

The Rum XP Tasting Competition was held last week in Miami.  Rums were sampled, scored and medals awarded to the finest in each class.  The winners are….

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Rum XP Announces Winners of Tasting Competition

by Mike Streeter

Being a member of the Rum XP (International Rum Expert Panel) has afforded me several memorable opportunities.  I’ve traveled to distilleries and met the people who make some of my favorite rums, I’ve been part of focus groups that evaluate new products and I often receive bottles of premium booze to review for Rum Connection.  But among the most pleasing of these perks is being a judge at the annual Rum XP Tasting Competition.

We hold this contest over three days and 5 separate tasting sessions during Rum Renaissance week in Miami.  It’s always one of those “pinch me” moments – being locked in a room with dozens of samples of fine rum all lined up neatly in rows to be sipped and scored.  The process goes on for hours and in the company of some of the industry’s top rum authorities.  Yes, life is good.  Rum companies from around the world participated in the competition and the results acknowledge the best brands in the industry.  Here are the winners……

Gold – Best In Class

White
Siesta Key Silver

Gold
Diplomatico Añejo

Aged
Plantation Panama 2000

Old Aged
Zaya

Premium Aged
Cartavio XO

Dark
Koloa Dark

Spiced
Blackbeard Spiced

Flavored
Dzama Rhum Vanilla

Overproof
Dzama Rhum Ambre Nosey-Be


Gold

Siesta Key Silver
Montanya Silver
Diplomatico Añejo
Plantation Panama 2000
Abuelo 7
Plantation Jamaica 2000
Plantation Trinidad 2000
Zaya
Plantation Barbados
Cartavio XO
Plantation 20th Anniversary
Dzama Cuvee Noir Prestige
Koloa Dark
Blackbeard Spiced
Seven Tiki
Kraken
Dzama Rhum Vanilla
Dzama Rhum Ambre Nosey-Be

Silver

Banks 5 Island
Dzama Rhum Blanc Nosy-Be
Mount Gay Silver
Diplomatico Blanco
Abuelo Añejo
Mount Gay Eclipse
Siesta Key Gold
Montanya Oro
Appleton Reserve
Barcelo Anjeo
Matusalem Classico
Ron Millonario 15
Plantation Guyana 1999
Abuelo 12
Dzama Vieux 6
Plantation Grenada 1998
Plantation Nicaragua 1998
Cockspur 12
Botran Reserva
Appleton 12 Extra
Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva
Millonario Reserva Especial XO
Flor de Caña Centenario
18
Dos Maderas PX 5 + 5
Botran Solera
Abuelo Centuria
Zafra 21
Matusalem 18 Gran Reserva
Siesta Key Spice
Dzama Vieux Rhum Vanilla 3 year
Plantation Trinidad 73% Overproof

Bronze

Denizen
Dzama Cuvee Blanc Presitge
Matusalem Platino
Bacardi Gold
Cockspur Fine Rum
Santa Teresa Añejo Gran Reserva
Cartavio 5
DonQ Añejo
Santa Teresa Selecto
Diplomatico Reserva
Flor de Cana 12
Plantation Barbados 1999
Flor de Cana 7
Matusalem 15
Mount Gay Extra Old
Barcelo Imperial
Mount Gay 1703
Santa Teresa 1796
Koloa Spice
Santa Teresa Araku Ron Y Café
Santa Teresa Rhum Orange Liquer




London Rum Party

London Cocktail Week and the UK Rum Fest team up this year for 7 days of non-stop cane spirits action.  Here’s a glimpse at just some of the festivities.

Monday, October 11th

Ron Zacapa Rum Seminar
Time: 2:30pm – 4pm
Venue: Reserve Bar at Selfridges
400 Oxford Street

Cocktail Hour with Ron Zacapa
Time: 5pm – 9pm
Venue: Reserve Bar at Selfridges
1st Floor, Selfridges 400 Oxford Street

An Insight into Cuban Cocktail Heritage w/ Havana Club
~Cocktail Training for beginners
Time: 5:30pm – 6:30pm & 7pm – 8pm
Venue: Prism – Lower Ground Bar
147 Leadenhall Street

Tuesday, October 12th

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Rum & Reason
Time: 7pm
Venue: Harrods

Appleton Rum Tasting w/ Jamie Magazine
~Tutored Tasting
Time: 7pm – 9pm
Venue: Circus
Endell Street

Wednesday, October 13th

Jamie Magazine – Appleton Rum Tasting
~Tutored Tasting
Time: 7pm – 9pm
Venue: Circus
Endell Street

Thursday, October 14th

An Insight into Cuban Cocktail Heritage w/ Havana Club
Time: 6pm – 7pm
Venue: Westbourne House
Notting Hill

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Papa Jules’ Mahiki Rum VIP Party
Time: 8pm-Late
Venue: Mahiki
2 Dover Street

Friday, October 15th

Mount Gay Masterclass
Time: 2pm – 3:30pm
Venue: Trader Vic’s
Hilton Hotel Park Lane

La Mauny Seminar
Time: 3pm – 4pm
Venue: Mahiki
2 Dover Street

Meet the Maker – Gilles Merlet – Leblon
Time: 4pm – 5pm
Venue: The House of St Barnabas
1 Greek St., Soho

Tiki Party sponsored by Santa Teresa
Time: 7.30pm – Midnight
Venue: Barrio Central
6 Poland Street

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Rum on the River – Aboard The Golden Hinde.
Hosted by Ian Rum Ambassador Burrell & Bacardi Rum.
Time:6pm – 10pm
The Golden Hinde

Distiller’s Dinner – Zacapa at The Artesian
Time: 8pm – Midnight
Venue: The Artesian Bar
The Langham Hotel

Saturday, October 16th

The UK RUMFEST
Time: Noon – 7pm
Venue: Olympia 2

The Rum Golden Barrel Awards and Dinner
Time: 8pm – 2pm
Venue: Kensington Hilton Hotel

Sunday, October 17th

The UK RUMFEST part 2
Time: Noon – 7pm
Venue: Olympia 2

Black Tot Rum Tasting

Our luck in Philly continued last Friday when we were summoned to a belated Black Tot Day celebration and tasting of the super-rare Black Tot Rum.

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Mike iconDrinking History
by Mike Streeter

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A 300 year old Royal Navy tradition came to an end on July 31st, 1970 when the last daily rum ration was served to enlisted  sailors.  That day became known as Black Tot Day and is observed annually by historians and rum enthusiasts alike; usually with plenty of singing, time-honored toasts, and Navy-style rum.

The Black Tot celebration at Rum Bar began with several rounds of Navy grog shortly followed by shots of Pusser’s British Navy Rum.  Good cheer ensued and an endless array of traditional Navy toasts were called out.  “To sweethearts and wives, may they never meet” seemed to be our favorite.

Belated Black Tot Day
Shot of Pusser's
Cheers

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At one point our friend and noted author, Ian Williams, broke into song with “It was 40 years ago today, the Navy took the rum away” to the tune of the old Beatles song, of course.  He followed with a laid back account of Navy folklore and history.  As a writer and rum expert, there’s no better person to explain Royal Navy tradition.  Ok, the British accent helped create the mood as well.

Ian Williams & Adam Kanter
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Later in the evening, a bottle of Black Tot Rum made its way from a perch on the very top shelf of Rum Bar’s stock to a cozy spot in front of us, encircled by several large snifters.  The story of this super-rare rum is an interesting one.  When the Royal Navy ended the daily rum ration in 1970, the remaining stock of rum was put into storage and left to rest for nearly 40 years sealed in imperial stone flagons.  That same rum was discovered, rebottled and released on July 31st, 2010, the 40th anniversary of Black Tot Day.

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Ian Williams and Adam Kanter did the honors of opening the well-sealed bottle and poured a sample for everyone in our party.  We slowly savored the “liquid history” of Black Tot and marveled at its unique character and complexity.  Terms like “big,” “bold,” and “beautiful” were thrown around and we all agreed that rum of this quality was rare without question.  Another series of toasts were called out and the evening continued to unfold with high spirits and the company of good friends.

So, next year on July 31st, remember that dark day in 1970 when at “6 bells in the forenoon watch” the final rum ration was served.  A very dark day indeed.  Cheers!!

Rum Week-Philly!!

Now that Rum Renaissance and Tales of the Cocktail have come and gone, make plans to be at the next big event of the year – Rum Week in Philadelphia.

Here’s the scoop:

Wednesday, August 18th

Paul Yellin, The Rhum Chef, brings his Caribbean culinary mastery to Rum Bar in Philadelphia and prepares dishes using some of the finest rums in the world.  There will be a 4 course dinner paired with rums and cocktails at 6pm and a 5 course VIP dinner at 8pm.

Thursday, August 19th

Rum On The River Cane Spirits Festival!  In its third year, this event just seems to get better and better.  There will be dozens of rums to sample, a tropical dinner buffett, live samba music and of course, the Mojito Olympics!!  Don’t miss it!! 7-10:30pm at Octo Waterfront Grill in Philadelphia.

Friday, August 20th

Black Tot Celebration.  Noted Rum Historian and authour of “Rum: A Social and Sociable History…” Ian Williams will speak about rum and help crack open a limited edition bottle of the SAME rum that the British Navy rationed out. This rum has rested for 40 years and has been bottled for YOU to enjoy!  6-8pm at Rum Bar.

Details and ticket info can be found at Rum-Bar.com or RumontheRiver.com.

See you all there!

Renaissance Rundown Pt. 2

Here’s Part 2 of our Rum Renaissance Rundown.  Good drink, good friends and good times seem to be the theme.  Cheers!

Day 3:

Once again, day 3 of Rum Renaissance started early as I was awoken in stereo by my trusty alarm clock and front desk wake-up call.  Glad both were in place.  Breakfast was hosted at the Delano by  the team from Cartavio, makers of very fine rum from Peru.  They talked about the company, their history and announced the upcoming release of Cartavio XO, which is wonderful and everyone should keep an eye out for.

After breakfast it was back down to the Florida Room for round 2 of the Rum XP Tasting Competition.  Today’s categories were Dark and Aged Rums and they just seemed to get better as the day unfolded.

At 5pm we all loaded into the Rums of Puerto Rico bus and drove out to the brand new Bacardi facility in Coral Gables.  We were treated to a party in their penthouse and enjoyed plenty of great food and well mixed cocktails.  The Bacardi archives are housed here and we were able to browse through years and years of company history.

Back on the bus we went and minutes later arrived at the Biltmore Hotel where Ron Matusalem was hosting our next party.  Matusalem chose well as the Biltmore is just a beautiful vintage hotel.  Among the treats in store for us was the unveiling of Matusalem 18, their latest aged rum.  We mingled with the great people who represent this company and sampled more fine rum before being summoned to the next party.

Back at the Ritz Carlton-Miami Beach a rum party was in full swing and hosted by our friends at Rums of Puerto Rico.  This was one of those surreal moments when the music, venue, food, drink and company were all perfect and the evening couldn’t have been any better.  Sipping Reserva Limitada and talking with our new friends from Rums of Puerto Rico was among the highlights of the week.  Thanks all!

Drinks @ Bacardi VIP
Drinks @ Bacardi VIP
All smiles @ Bacardi
All smiles @ Bacardi
Matusalem 18 @ Biltmore
Matusalem 18 @ Biltmore
Rums of Puerto Rico
Rums of Puerto Rico
The Chairman's crew
The Chairman's crew
VIP w/ Bruce Barritt
VIP w/ Bruce Barritt

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Day 4:

The Rum XP group got together at noon to discuss the Tasting Competition and get a sneak peak at some of the results.  This is a great group of guys who have an unshakable passion for cane spirits and I’m happy to be among such good company.

At 1pm the doors of the Grand Tasting (the main event) at the Raleigh Hotel were flung open and a herd of rum aficionados began to circulate through the tents and cabanas that housed rums from around the world.  Bikini clad women poured samples of premium spirits while distillery bigwigs explained the process behind their products.  By mid-afternoon the temperature had risen to 90+ and shade was scares, but there was no stopping this party and the rum just kept flowing.

Barritt’s Ginger Beer held a drinks competition at 3:30 and, again, I was happy to serve as a judge.  They received over 200 entries and after much deliberation announced two winning drinks (more on that in days to come.)

Later in the afternoon, the International Tiki-Off was held on the Rum Renaissance main stage and it did not disappoint.  Tiki teams from the US and UK competed in several categories including knowledge test, speed round, drink crafting and, on Saturday, a live skit performance.  It was a fight to the finish, but the boys from the UK squeaked out a win.  Well done fellas.

As the sun set, The Grand Tasting drew to a close and after just a minute or two of rest we stumbled down to the final VIP party which was hosted by Appleton Rum at the Delano Hotel’s Florida Room.  A band played, Appleton 12 was consumed, the Conteporary Cocktails crew mixed perfect drinks and good fun was had until the wee hours.  Stumbled back (and I do mean stumble) to the Raleigh, one more drink at the lobby bar, and it’s off to bed.  Damn, I need some sleep.

The 2010 Rum Renaissance Festival was a huge success.  Thanks to all that made it possible, especially Robert & Robin Burr and Rob Burr Jr.  You guys rock!  If you didn’t attend this year, get your act together and start making plans for 2011!!   Cheers!

Zafra booth
Zafra booth
Hand rolled cigars
Hand rolled cigars
Seven Tiki
Seven Tiki
Dennis Rodman
Dennis Rodman
Bacardi Waitress
Bacardi Waitress
Diplomatico booth
Diplomatico booth
Meeting Rum Shop Ryan
Meeting Rum Shop Ryan
The RnD Guys
The RnD Guys
Rums of PR girls
Rums of PR girls
Danny Smith of UK Tiki
Danny Smith of UK Tiki
Jeff "Beachbum" Berry
Jeff "Beachbum" Berry
UK Tiki takes the win
UK Tiki takes the win

Renaissance Rundown Pt.1

We’ve talked about it for months and Rum Reniassance has somehow come and gone in a flash.  Here’s our rundown……from what we can remember.

Day 1:

We rolled into Miami on Wednesday and checked in at the Raleigh Hotel in Miami Beach.  Nice place.  After a bit of rest, we strolled down to the Gansevoort Hotel where Zacapa hosted the first of 10 or so VIP parties. Lorena Vasquez, Master Distiller at Zacapa, gave a brilliant presentation on their history and production.  Next, up to the roof terrace for more Zacapa love and catching up with new and old friends.

We then loaded ourselves into a shuttle bus that was generously sponsored by Rums of Puerto Rico and drove to the Epic Hotel in downtown Miami where Ron Barcelo was hosting the next party.  The Epic is a beautiful, upscale facility with dress code to match.  Several of us flip-flop wearing rum drinkers had to pull a string or two just to get inside but in the end, the Barcelo party was a memorable one with top notch food and drink.

Back on the bus and back to South Beach where Atlantico hosted us at the Betsy Hotel rooftop.  Great drinks, music and conversation ensued before the night was up.  Life is good!!

Zacapa Roof Party
Zacapa Roof Party
Hanging with Jeff Berry
Hanging with Jeff Berry
Rums of PR Bus
Rums of PR Bus
Ron Barcelo Girls
Ron Barcelo Girls
Betsy Hotel South Beach
Betsy Hotel South Beach
Mucho Atlantico
Mucho Atlantico

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Day 2:

Being anywhere before noon really seems to cause me a bit of stress these days, but on Thursday morning I had the opportunity to meet the Master Distiller from Zafra.  Alarm clock and front desk wake-up call were both firmly in place.  Over breakfast at News Cafe in South Beach we learned about Zafra, a 21 year old Panamanian Rum that is quickly gaining notoriety.  This is very special product and wonderful people represent the company.

After breakfast we met at the Florida Room at the Delano Hotel for the beginning of the Rum XP Tasting Competition.  I was honored to be a judge at this year’s event and for the next 4 hours we sampled and scored some of the best rums on the planet.  You know the saying, tough job but someone has to do it.

Thursday evening was once again filled with flashy VIP parties.  We rode the Rums of Puerto Rico Bus out to the Ritz Carlton-Biscayne Bay for the Clement party at a little place called RumBar.  Ti Punches flowed freely and some of Clement’s best was generously poured by our buddy Ben Jones.

Back on the bus and over to the Epic Hotel rooftop for the Diplomatico party.  Paranoid of the dress code police, I put on real shoes for the first time in months.  Our friends at Diplomatico pulled out the stops for this one and the 5 well-positioned bars kept drinks flowing as guest bartenders and enthusiasts showed off their skills.

The next party was back at the Raleigh Hotel courtyard and hosted by Ron Abuelo.  The setting was perfect for a final cocktail (or 4), good conversation and rummy chear all around.

Stay tuned for the boozy antics of days three and four of the Rum Renaissance Festival……   To be continued…….

Breakfast with the Zafra Team
Breakfast with Zafra
Ian Williams @ Rumbar
Ian Williams @ Rumbar
Shake it Matt
Shake it Matt
Adam Kanter @ Diplomatico
Adam Kanter @ Diplomatico Bar
Rum XP @ Diplomatico
Rum XP @ Ron Abuelo VIP Party
Pauline Holland & Clyde Davis
Pauline Holland & Clyde Davis

UK Rum Fest Roundup

With 400 rums to sample, a non-stop seminar schedule and thousands of geeky rum enthusiasts, Rum Fest was a huge success. Here’s what we discovered.

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Mount Gay's Chesterfield Brown makes a mean Rum Punch.
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El Dorado's jungle theme booth was the best of show!
Pirates really do like rum...... a lot.
Pirates really do like rum...... a lot.
Chairman's Reserve "rum-mobile" was a big hit.
Chairman's Reserve "rum-mobile" was a big hit.
Rum drinkers enjoy drunk domino action.
Rum drinkers enjoy drunk domino action.
Carnivale dancers are always a good thing!
Carnivale dancers are always a good thing!
....and drunk dancing is always entertaining.
....and drunk dancing, not so much.
Havana Club had a brilliant spot at Rum Fest.
Havana Club had a brilliant spot at Rum Fest.
...but they would only let us hold the bottle of Maximo.
...but they would only let us hold the bottle of Maximo.
....if you were shrewd, maybe even a quick sniff.
....if you were shrewd, maybe even a quick sniff.
The Hall was packed from noon until 7pm both days.
The Hall was packed from noon until 7pm both days.
Ian Burrell plays a great MC.
Ian Burrell plays a great MC.
The Seven Fathoms diver was always lost.
The Seven Fathoms diver was always lost.
Dimplomatico brought along samples of rums they use for blending.
Dimplomatico brought along samples of rums they use for blending.
Plenty of drink mixing seminars throughout the weekend.
Plenty of drink mixing seminars throughout the weekend.
Jeff " Beachbum" Berry was added to the roster this year.  His seminar was among the best at Rum Fest.
Jeff " Beachbum" Berry was added to the roster this year. His seminar was among the best at Rum Fest.
St. Nicholas Abbey filled bottles straight from the barrel.
St. Nicholas Abbey filled bottles straight from the barrel.
The annual Tiki Competition remains a Rum Fest highlight.
The annual Tiki Competition remains a Rum Fest highlight.
....and a great way to end a fantastic weekend.
....and a great way to end a fantastic weekend.
Thanks London
Thanks London!! We'll see you again next year.

Rum Renaissance Recap

Beverage industry veteran, freelance journalist and rum enthusiast, June Coleman, joins The RC team with coverage of the Rum Renaissance Festival.

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Picture 7The Ultimate Rum Party
By June Coleman

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UPON MY ARRIVAL TO MIAMI FOR THE FIRST RUM RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL, I KNEW THE EVENT WOULD BE AS HOT AS THE BALMY WEATHER OF THIS HIP FLORIDA CITY. THE EVENT, WHICH SPANNED A 4-DAY PERIOD, OFFERED A TASTING COMPETITION, A SERIES OF CORPORATE SPONSORED VIP PARTIES AND A GIANT RUM TASTING. THE FESTIVAL ATTRACTED A RAINBOW OF RUM ENTHUSIASTS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE AND A VERY, VERY GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL.

DAY ONE: MY FIRST STOP ON THE PARTY ITINERARY WAS TO A LITTLE BURGER JOINT OF ALUMINUM FACADE AND RETRO DÉCOR CALLED “8 OZ” FOR A GATHERING SPONSORED BY ATLANTICO RUM . AS I ENTERED, I KNEW THE PARTY WAS “ON” WITH DEPECHE MODE BOOMING ON THE SOUND SYSTEM, BAR STAFF CIRCULATING WITH SLIDER BURGERS AND AN OPEN BAR WITH AN EXTENSIVE RUM SELECTION. WE WERE SERVED A MEDLEY OF ATLANTICO COCKTAILS; SOME MODIFIED FROM OLD STANDARDS AND OTHERS WERE MORE ADVENTUROUS. THEY WERE ALL WELL DONE.

WHEN THE CLOCK STRUCK 9PM, IT WAS TIME TO MAKE MY WAY TO THE NEXT PARTY HOSTED BY CASTRIES RUM CREAM OF ST. LUCIA. IT WAS NEXT DOOR TO THE 8 OZ. BAR AT THE EXQUISITE MONDRIAN HOTEL. THE ATMOSPHERE AT THE HOTEL’S SUNSET LOUNGE IS ULTRA MOD WITH A PERFECT VIEW OF AN ELABORATE POOL AREA AND THE BAY BEYOND. THE CROWD SIPPED CASTRIES COCKTAILS, MIXED AND MINGLED AS NEW FRIENDSHIPS WERE CONCEIVED.

DAY TWO: THE NEXT EVENING, WE GATHERED ONCE AGAIN AT THE MONDRIAN HOTEL’S SUNSET LOUNGE FOR A PARTY HOSTED BY RON ZACAPA. THE RUM FLOWED FREELY AND THE BAR STAFF SERVED A VERY NICE DRINK CALLED THE GINGER CUBAN; RUM, MINT, LEMON JUICE, CANE SUGAR, AUGOSTURA BITTERS, SHAKEN AND STRAINED OVER ICE, AND TOPPED WITH GINGER BEER! VERY TASTY! THE CROWD WAS SERENADED BY A LATIN JAZZ QUARTET AND PUFFED ON HAND-ROLLED CIGARS. THE NEXT STOP WAS ACROSS THE BAY TO BACARDI HEADQUARTERS. OUR GROUP SNATCHED UP A FEW COCKTAILS, TOURED THE BACARDI MUSEUM AND THEN MADE OUR WAY UPSTAIRS FOR MORE FOOD, DRINKS, MUSIC AND A SAMPLE OF RESERVA LIMITADA….A NICE SIPPING RUM.

DAY THREE: THE MAIN EVENT: THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT, THE VENUE WAS BEAUTIFUL AND MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE PARADED THROUGH THE GRAND TASTING, A SHOWCASE OF RUMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. DISTILLERY REPS POURED SAMPLES IN THE COURTYARD AND SURROUNDING CABANAS OF THE SHORE CLUB HOTEL. UPSTAIRS, THERE WERE A HOST OF EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS SCHEDULED FOR ALL ENTHUSIASTS TO ENJOY. THE VARIETY OF RUMS ON OFFER WAS MIND BLOWING AND I WAS ABLE TO ACQUAINT MYSELF WITH A FEW OF MY OLD STAND-BYS (ANGOSTURA 1824, DIPLOMATICO EXCLUSIVA) AND DISCOVERED SEVERAL NEW FAVORITES (DOS MADERAS, RON CACIQUE.)

THE AFTER PARTY HOSTED BY APPLETON RUM TOOK PLACE A FEW DOORS DOWN AT THE DELANO HOTEL. I FOUND MY WAY THROUGH THE LOBBY WITH ITS SNOWY WHITE SHEERS AND TECHNO MUSIC, MEANDERED THROUGH THE GARDENS TO THE SUBTERAINIAN BAR KNOWN AS THE FLORIDA ROOM. THE RUM SOAKED CROWD GROOVED TO SWEET JAMAICAN TUNES BELLOWED BY JAHFE, A GREAT MIAMI-BASED REGGAE GROUP. WE DRANK APPELTON 12, MINGLED AND DANCED UNTIL THE WEE HOURS. THIS PLACE KNOWS HOW TO THROW A PARTY.

DAY FOUR: THIS WONDERFUL WEEKEND CONCLUDED WITH A POOL PARTY BACK AT THE SHORE CLUB. THE RUM FLOWED WHILE WE RELAXED, TALKED SHOP AND NETWORKED. IT WAS THE PERFECT ENDING TO 4 DAYS OF FUN, RUM AND SUN. ROBERT BURR AND HIS TEAM DID AN AWESOME JOB ORGANIZING THIS EVENT. AS THE POPULARITY OF RUM CONTINUES TO GROW ON A GLOBAL LEVEL, EVENTS LIKE THIS ONE WILL SURELY BECOME MORE COMMON. TO MATCH THE VIBE OF RUM RENAISSANCE, HOWEVER, WOULD BE QUITE A TASK INDEED. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THEY HAVE IN STORE FOR 2010.


Miami Or Bust

We’re headed to Miami for the first (and hopefully annual) Rum Renaissance Festival. Keep an eye out for our coverage of the party in South Beach. Cheers!