Rumpundit » Rum Fests

Burr, baby Burr, rum tastings!

ian — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:52:17 +0000

Cartavio Rum Tasting
Thursday, August 12

at the Mai Kai Polynesian Restaurant

The Robs will be hosting a tasting event featuring outstanding rums from Peru. You’re invited to sample these rums with us at the Mai Kai on August 12.

The Cartavio line of rums is gaining much attention lately, winning awards and turning heads among rum enthusiasts. Be among the first to sample these outstanding products now available in South Florida.

Save The Date: Thursday, August 12, 6 to 8pm.

Join us for some fine cocktails designed by the Mai Kai bartenders, sip on some excellent luxury rums and enter your name in the contest to win a bottle of Cartavio XO rum.

Space is limited, so please RSVP online soon using the link below.

RSVP

date   Thursday, August 12
time   6:00 to 8:00pm
location   Mai Kai Molokai Bar
address   3599 N. Federal Hwy
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
954-563-3272
cost   $10
Drop us a line anytime. Let’s talk about rum!

Rum Renaissance

ian — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:30:30 +0000

Miami Rum Renaissance Festival
May 5-9, 2010
\
A Global Gathering At The Raleigh South Beach Resort

May 5-9, 2010

Join us for a discovery of the world’s best rums.

Rum is experiencing a Renaissance around the world as savvy consumers discover the incredible flavors of fine rums from every Caribbean island and every region of the Americas.

Miami is uniquely positioned to host this unique international festival — a celebration of cane spirits in the new world.

www.RumRenaissance.com
Mark your calendars now for one of the premier international rum events in May as Miami Rum Renaissance Festival presents a unique and exciting celebration of the finest rums in the world, featuring a slew of great VIP parties, an exhibition of ourstanding cane spirits, seminars and workshops, an opportunity to rub shoulders with dignitaries and notable experts, plus a special series of beach and pool party events celebrating island cultures with live music, great food and an amazing array of tropical libations.
The Raleigh South Beach Resort
Our Grand Tasting event is held at the world famous Raleigh South Beach Resort with a fabulous pool and private beach, directly on the ocean. You’ll find the Raleigh chic, yet warm and inviting; glamorous, yet without attitude; historically iconic, yet tastefully modernized. Here is a legendary and world-renowned art deco hotel that lives up to its copious accolades. Special Rum Renaissance room rates start at $250.

The Grand Tasting Event May 8
The Grand Rum Tasting Exhibition on Saturday, May 8 will include a plethora of fine rums from the Caribbean and beyond, presented in the context of a luxurious, tropical setting of the Raleigh South Beach Resort. Sample the finest rums from each island, from each category and from each notable brand.

The Celebrity Seminars
Seminars and lectures will be presented by a veritable who’s who list of experts from the rum manufacturing, distilling and blending world, as well as luminaries of the cocktail mixologists universe, offering insightful programs to consumers and members of the trade.

The VIP Parties May 5-9
Be there for these very special rum-themed events, hosted by the best rum companies in the world and great locations around Miami, featuring fine rums, great food, music and island culture.

The Rum Tasting Competition
Rum Renaissance is host to the International Rum Expert Panel (RumXP) tasting competition, where more than one hundred rums from around the world will be judged by an all-star international cast of distillers, mixologists and spirits journalists gathered in Miami Beach.

The International Tiki Face-Off Competition
From around the world and from down the street, some of the world’s best tiki mixologists will duel for bragging rights to the best international tiki team title with a series of challenges, culminating in a big finale at the Grand Tasting Event.

The Tropical Libations
The world’s finest bartenders and mixologists will be in attendance, producing exotic libations with world-class rums to delight and amaze rum enthusiasts.

The Big Bang Beach And Pool Party
On Sunday, May 9, we’ll all gather around the pool at the Raleigh South Beach Resort from noon to 5pm to enjoy the sun and fun. Chill out, decompress, mingle with rum experts and enthusiasts from around the world and enjoy living the great rum lifestyle on the beach.

Make plans now to experience Miami Rum Renaissance Festival, May 5-9, 2010.

For more information, contact:

Robert or Robin Burr
p: 305-443-7973
f: 305-447-0745
email: rob@rumrenaissance.com

Nepal and Panama ace out at Tampa

ian — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:04:38 +0000

For Immediate Release Media contact:
March 22, 2010 Dori Bryant
(727) 947-3522
info@polishedpalate.com

5th Annual Polished Palate International Rum Competition
Fifth Annual Polished Palate International Rum Competition Awards Announced

TAMPA, Fla. (March 22, 2010) – The results are in. The competition, held on March 18-19 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Ybor City, was hosted by Jack Robertiello/Drinks Ink, along with judges Arturo Sighinolfi/SWS, Luis Ayala/Rum Shop, Stephen Beaumont/World of Beer, Harriet Lembeck/Wine & Spirits Educator, Ben Montgomery/St. Petersburg Times and Anthony Nasso/Republic National Distributing Company. Judges evaluated 42 rums based-upon five criteria: appearance, aroma, taste, mouthfeel & finish.

Judges sampled the spirits before selecting possible Best of Show, Best of Category, Gold, Silver and Bronze level award winners. A Best of Show is not always awarded. For a brand to receive this acknowledgement, each judge has to rate the spirit with a score of 90+. 21 years in the making, Master Distiller Francisco ‘Pancho’ Fernandez has done it again; he’s created a masterpiece. Zafra Master Reserve 21 Rum from Panama received the 2010 Best of Show award.

This year’s competition featured 7 categories including White Rum, Gold Rum, Dark Rum, Rum Aged up to 8 Years, Rum Aged 9-15 Years, Rum Aged 15+ Years and Flavored Rum. Of special note, one particular rum has entered the competition all five years, Khukri Rum from Nepal, and earned their 5th consecutive Gold Medal as well as their 2nd Best of Category Award.

Dori Bryant, President of the Polished Palate said, “It is obvious that Rum’s star has already risen. The qualtiy of new products entering the market, including those from Panama, Venezuela, Florida and Hawaii, bodes well for the industry”.

Congratulations to all of 2010 winners.

5th Annual Rum Competition Results:
(Bold denotes Best of Category. Note: Not all categories received a Best of Category award in 2010):

White Rum
Gold: Don Q Cristal/Puerto Rico
Diplomatico Blanco/Dominican Republic
Silver: Siesta Key Rum/Florida
Ron Barcelo Gran Platinum/Dominican Republic
Bronze: Carta Viejo Claro/Panama
Koloa White Hawaiian Rum/Hawaii

Gold Rum
Silver: Bacardi Gold/Puerto Rico
Koloa Gold Hawaiian Rum/Hawaii
Bronze: Don Q Gold/Puerto Rico
Old Lahaina Premium Gold Hawaiian Rum/Hawaii

Dark Rum
Gold: Khukri Rum (Nepal)
One Barrel Rum/Belize
Silver: Koloa Dark Hawaiian Rum/Hawaii
Carta Vieja Anejo/Panama
Bronze: Old Lahaina Premium Dark Rum/Hawaii

Rum Aged Up To 8 Years
Gold: Ron Abuelo 7 Anos/Panama
Bacardi 8/Puerto Rico
Ron Abuelo Anejo/Panama
Ron Medellin 8 Year Old/Colombia
Silver: Ron Barcelo Imperial/Dominican Republic
Plantation Barbados 5 Year Grande Reserve/Barbados
Ron Medellin 3 Year Old/Colombia
Ron Viejo de Caldas 3 Year Old/Colombia
Ron Viejo de Caldas Grand Reserve/Colombia
Bronze: Don Q Anejo/Puerto Rico
Ron Carupano Oro Reserva Especial/Venezuela

Rum Aged 9-15 Years
Gold: Ron Abuelo 12 Anos/Panama
Don Q Grand Anejo/Puerto Rico
Ron Carupano Solera Centenaria Reserva Limitada/Venezuela
Silver: Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva/Venezuela
Plantation 20th Anniversary/Barbados
Vizcaya VXOP Cask 21 Cuban Style Rum/Dominican Republic

Rum Aged 15+ Years
Gold: Zafra Master Reserve 21 Rum/Panama BEST IN SHOW
Ron Anejo Carupano Legendario/Venezuela
Silver: Bacardi Reserva Limitada/Puerto Rico
Ron Millonario Solera 15 Reserva Especial/Peru

Flavored Rum
Silver: Don Q Coco/Puerto Rico
Don Q Limon/Puerto Rico
Bronze: Aguardiente Antioqueno Sin Azucar/Colombia

About The Polished Palate
Since 2005, the Polished Palate has been hosting spirits competitions and cutting edge Tasting Events, educating the consumer on all aspects of each distilled spirit category. Through events and seminars hosted by recognized industry professionals, guests learn about the history & culture of each spirit, their impact on society, current trends and appropriate tasting techniques, while promoting responsible consumption—all in a festive format. ###

Tampa, Vth Polished Palate International Rum Competition

ian — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:09:15 +0000

As the rum controversy heats up between Puerto Rico & the USVI (Modern Distillery Age, March 9) rum is about to make more headlines. The 5th Annual Polished Palate International Rum Competition takes place this week in Tampa’s Ybor City at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Hosted by Jack Robertiello/Drinks Ink, judges Arturo Sighinolfi/SWS, Luis Ayala/Rum Shop, Stephen Beaumont/World of Beer, Ian Williams/Author & Rum Pundit, Harriet Lembeck/Wine & Spirits Educator, Ben Montgomery/St. Petersburg Times and Anthony Nasso/Republic National Distributing Company will be evaluating dozens of rums based-upon five criteria: appearance, aroma, taste, mouthfeel & finish. While all criteria are important in establishing a rum’s signature profile, aroma and flavor rank highest in scoring, and, of course, mean the most to rum lovers.

‘Nosing’ a spirit is a science—and there are specific techniques employed to ascertain scores. Lorena Vasquez, Master Distiller of the highly regarded Ron Zacapa rums, approaches the glass first within a breadth of the front rim, then moves her nose to the middle of the glass and finally against the far rim. Trying this for the first time is an eye-opener as each ‘nosing area’ offers subtleties one might anticipate during the tasting process (top note, mid-palate and finish). A simultaneous technique is to quickly inhale through both the nose and the mouth. The result leaves a foreshadow of the taste of what’s in the glass.

Spirits are always tasted ‘neat’, and, they’re tasted repeatedly throughout each session. For example, once air enters a glass, the essence of the rum begins to open up and, the longer it sits, other nuances will come to light. Some tasters put a dash of water (optional) which dampens the alcohol and brings up the flavor.

Results of the 2010 competition will be posted next week

____________________

World’S Greatest RumFest coming October

ian — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:27:53 +0000

Ian Burrell’s video trailer for next year’s London Rumfest – no clips from my seminars, but the dancers are more attractive (even) than me!
Rumpundit</em>
click for a preview, and you can almost smell the rum..

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?comments=&v=1321911721487

Full Fathom Seven from Cayman to London

ian — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:03:23 +0000

UK to drink in Cayman culture

By Cliodhna Doherty, cliodhna@cfp.ky
Wednesday 21st October, 2009 Posted: 15:34 CIT (20:34 GMT)

> Comment on this story

This coming weekend will see a fresh taste of the Cayman Islands being promoted in Europe by way of The UK Rumfest in London.

“For the past two and a half years, we promoted the flora and fauna of the Cayman Islands and we have now moved into culture and cuisine,” explained Don McDougall, Regional Manager Europe with the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism. “At the London Rumfest, we will be putting together an exhibit for the show.”

The festival takes place this coming Saturday and Sunday 24 to 25 October at the Royal Horticultural Halls in Victoria, London and it prides itself as being the only international spirit festival dedicated to the wonders and experiences of rum and cane spirits from all over the world.

Mr. McDougall explained that the Cayman Islands’ exhibit would have representatives from Seven Fathoms Rum, Tortuga Rum Co. and Cayman’s award winning ’mixologist’.

“Not only have we Seven Fathoms, a rum that matures 42 feet under the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea, but we have Tortuga Rum Cakes and award winning ‘mixologist’, Khi Leonard, from the Westin, who will be doing Cayman Islands’ cocktail mixes,” said Mr. McDougall.

The festival is expected to attract about 6,000 people over two days.

The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism is sponsoring a promotional prize on London’s Biggest Conversation (LBC) radio, in the form of a trip for two to the Cayman Islands. The prize puts a focus on rum, such as offering lunch at Rum Point and a rum distillery visit.

To tie in with the culinary and cultural promotions, in November 2009’s edition of the UK’s Food and Travel magazine there is a 10–page colour feature which was achieved through the visiting journalist programme.

“It really hits our Cayman culture and culinary strategy on the button,” said Mr. McDougall.

Everything from turtle and conch, rundown, land crabs to heavy cake, jellies, jams and the local fish market are explored in this article which comes out in time to coincide with The UK Rumfest.

It also gives a lead up to Cayman’s ‘Culinary month’ this coming January which will include The Cayman Cookout and the Taste of Cayman festivals.

Canada fights the Cold

ian — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:00:32 +0000

Toronto To Celebrate Caribbean Spirit At 2nd Annual Rum & Rhythm Festival

TORONTO, Canada – The sweet flavour of rum and the pulsating beat of island music will be on full display in Toronto during Caribbean Week in Canada’s second annual Caribbean Rum & Rhythm Festival, Friday, October 30 from 6:00p.m.- 9:00pm at the Fermenting Cellar in Toronto’s trendy Distillery District. Tickets are now on sale for the highly anticipated event at www.caribbeanweek.ca, or by calling (416) 935-0767.

A variety of the Caribbean’s award-winning rums will be available for tasting in addition to rum cocktails served up by the region’s top mixologists. The Festival will also feature mouth-watering cuisine by some of the Caribbean’s most celebrated chefs, musical performances and a silent auction including “one of a kind” vacations to the Caribbean.

The silent auction will benefit the CTO Foundation, a charitable entity established by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) to provide opportunities for Caribbean nationals to pursue studies in the areas of tourism, hospitality and language training. The Foundation selects individuals who demonstrate high levels of achievement and leadership both within and outside the classroom and who express a strong interest in making a positive contribution to Caribbean tourism.

“The Caribbean Rum & Rhythm Festival is arguably the most anticipated event during Caribbean Week,” said Hugh Riley, secretary general of the CTO. “It’s an authentic opportunity to experience the Caribbean while here in Canada. Guests can taste rums imported directly from the region and sample fare from our celebrity chefs while dancing to the beats of Caribbean music.”

Tickets are available for CAD $55 per person and can be purchased online at Ticketweb.com and www.caribbeanweek.ca or by calling (888) 222-6608. Admission includes six rum samples and one rum cocktail along with Caribbean food tastings. Guests must be at least 21 years of age for entrance to the Caribbean Rum & Rhythm Festival.

Caribbean Week in Canada 2009, held October 23 – November 1, 2009 is organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), and brings together influential policy makers, financial leaders, marketing professionals, and tourism industry officials to interact and discuss both tourism and investment opportunities in the region. It also serves to provide a taste of the Caribbean to showcase its diversity and inspire travel.

Rum Fest, Rum Video!

ian — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:39:30 +0000

Two big rum events this week. In London Ian Burrell’s London Rum Fest concentrates a world of aficionados for a weekend of fun and instruction, including a seminar from me, but more importantly lots of samples and lots of congenial samplers.

And A Cork Above debuts my I-video on rum.

Don Q rides into Andes!

ian — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:41:03 +0000

Anyone up in the Catskills, a talk on rum, sales of book and a tasting of Don Q rums full range, including their exquisite Grand Anejo, at the Andes Hotel, in Andes, upstate New York from 2 pm onwards Saturday 5th September, rum, reggae band, Caribbean inspired food.. and me. What more could you ask!
Rumpundit.

I will be selling hardback copies of Rum the book..and we will be sampling the full range of Don Q. I’ll even have my statuette of the Don on show.

Just remember, signed (and custom dedicated) copies of Rum: A Social & Sociable History of the Real Spirit of 1776 the perfect prophylactic against teabaggers, are available, $25 inc postage in the US, and you can pay on Paypal via rum@igc.org

Caribbean Heritage -Rum

ian — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:07:05 +0000

ENTERTAINMENTCaribbean Heritage – A Renaissance of Rum

If you’re from the Caribbean hemisphere, chances are you got your first taste of rum before you could toddle upright without help… most Caribbean nationals get a hint of the elixir when Christmas comes around as the scents of cured fruits permeate the air in the Black cakes or Rum cakes being baked in preparation for the festive season.

In celebrating the first Caribbean Heritage Month here in the U.S., the Brooklyn Historical Society hosted a most intoxicating forum on the potent drink which featured Rum expert Ian Williams. Born in Liverpool Ian Williams has had a variety of career experiences, he’s worked on buses and railways; was a speech writer for a UK Labor party leader and participated in a drinking competition with Chinese Premier Chou En Lai and argued about English Literature with Chiang Ching, aka Mme Mao.

Consuls-General (l-r) Odle, Robertson and Evans showcase the rums of Barbados, Trinidad and Guyana, respectively

The Brooklyn Historical Society was founded in 1863 as the Long Island Historical Society. At that time, the city of Brooklyn was the commercial and cultural center of Long Island. Headed by Deborah Schwartz the venue was most appropriate to host a discussion on an aged topic which had great impact on the structure of Caribbean nations and governments, as well as to the economies of today’s western super powers. One learned about the spirit of Brooklyn’s history and rum in vintage style.

Presented by the Office of the District Attorney and sponsored by Cockspur, the premium rum of Barbados established in 1884, that nations’ Consul-General Jessica Odle proudly welcomed guests and promised an enjoyable event as biting and multi-layered as it’s described in the lecturer’s book entitled what else… RUM: A Social and Sociable History of the Real Spirit of 1776. A quick and lively read, the author give us an in depth look at the evolution of rum and the renaissance it’s enjoying today as pointed out by Dr. Harold Robertson.

Ian Williams having a taste

Rum is “the global spirit with its warm beating heart in the Caribbean, the one factor that is shared by all the cultures of the region, and enthusiastically drunk by the descendants of those who were enslaved to produce it;” says Williams. He began drinking rum at an extremely early age and had he been in New York he’s sure children services would have taken him under their care. He began researching the subject seriously many years later while working in the Caribbean.

It was in Barbados in the first half of the seventeenth century that the British colonists realized that the by-product of sugar refining, molasses was more than just an inferior sweetener. In the tropics it fermented quickly, and although the immediate product was an intestinal challenge of a high order to any drinker, when distilled, a gallon of molasses produced a gallon of high-octane spirit.

Known as Kill-devil, Barbados Water, or rumbullion, before rum became the common term, it was a desirable commodity that quickly enhanced the profits of the sugar trade, while making more bearable the endless toil in the tropical heat necessary to grow and refine it. Rum quickly became the means of pay for soldiers and sailors who helped build the western empires, like the British. Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were avid rum collectors and drinkers. For the first of its two centuries Barbados was the positioned first port of call for ships to the other British colonies in the Western Hemisphere. Any “good” ideas that originated in the island, whether rum, sugar plantations, African slavery, or even the idea of calling the head of the local government the President, were sure to spread to all the British colonies, and in those early days, they were carried by the departing colonists, Williams is quoted as writing.

Joining the festivities with rum products representing their nations also, were the Consuls-General of Guyana; Brentnold Evans and Trinidad and Tobago Dr. Harold Robertson both proudly displayed aged rums from their countries. Also represented at the event were St. Lucia, Puerto Rico, and Haiti. The event would not have been complete without the quintessential crowning of the night; that meant of course that to close the lecture a live rendition of Drunk and Disorderly was performed by non other than the Mighty Sparrow himself. Photos by Mike Hadaway Sr.