Founder / Director Ian Burrell. Photo courtesy tntmagazine.com
RumFest is the world’s largest festival dedicated to celebrating rum and it’s wider culture taking place at London’s ExCeL Centre this weekend Saturday 13 to Sunday 14 October and offers the following:
– The chance to sip and savour over 400 of the most rare and delicious rums from around the world
– Taste delicious food infused with rum and Caribbean street food in the Tropical Food Market
– Attend workshops and seminars discovering rum’s history, where and how it’s made plus master classes on rum and chocolate pairing
– The Rum University will feature ‘Cocktail historians’ who will be on hand and the Rum map outlinging where rums from around the world come from
– Cocktail Theatre
Guyana rum booth 2008. Photo courtesy blog.thewhiskyexchange.com
– Live bands playing exotic rhythms
– Chance to see some of the most exciting and skilled mixologists create cocktail master pieces.
Tickets are £25 for Saturday £20 for Sunday and £40 for Weekend tickets. VIP tickets also available
Contented visitors at RumFest 2011. Photo courtesy socanews.com
Rum is not just a drink; it’s a way of life. At the heart of The Rum Experience, RumFest takes place across the two days creating the ultimate tropical paradise, bringing a burst of sunshine to our gloomy autumnal months and recent rain-drenched summer. Showcasing over 400 of the rarest and most diverse rums from across the globe, taste buds will be tantalized as visitors make their way through the isles filled with hundreds of rum brands, sampling and discovering as they go. Whether you’re a lover of DonQ Rum from Puerto Rico or prefer a tipple of El Dorado Rum from Guyana or a tot of Ron Zacapa from Guatemala, there will be hundreds of brands available to taste and savour.
Cuban drink mixing technique. Photo courtesy havana-cocteles.com
Bringing together the industry’s top blenders, distillers and mixologists, visitors will be given the chance to go on a journey of rum-discovery with a vast array of masterclasses, talks and seminars available.
The Rum University will host an array presentations across the two days with leading rum brands like Bacardi and Mount Gay, the unveiling of the Angostura Rum Map showcasing rums from across the globe and Rum Historians, Anastasia Miller and Jarred Brown will be on hand to take visitors on a Rum-Education.
For those who have a passion for cocktail sampling, creating or spectating, some of the world’s most skilled mixologists will be at UK RumFest with cocktail battles and demonstrations throughout the two days within the
Cocktail Theatre.
Captain Jack Sparrow drops in. Simply fun and funny!
With cocktail in hand, the carnival atmosphere is topped off with live music playing an intoxicating mix of reggae rhythms, salsa and samba plus traditional souk dancers. Bringing the tropical experience to life, UK RumFest will also be giving Sunday visitors the opportunity to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to rum’s homeland; a one week, all expenses paid trip to a stunning Caribbean Island and what better place to indulge in one’s love of rum than in paradise?
TROPICAL FOOD MARKET
Rum tasting. Photo courtesy theothersidemag.co.uk
The Rum Experience aims to celebrate not just the drink but the richness and diversity of rum culture. Following the huge success of last year’s inaugural Tropical Food Market, the foodie’s paradise is set to expand in 2012 showcasing the finest delicacies and cuisine from the Tropics. This year, there will be a series of seminars will delve even further into the art, and science, of pairing chocolate with rum and are a must-do activity at RumFest. Places are limited but attendance essential.
The Caymanas Rum Cakes return after last year’s huge success, which has subsequently led to one of the UK’s biggest supermarket brands selecting to stock the products for 2012.
Rich in flavour and tantalizingly moist, the authentic Caribbean family recipe has been passed on from generation to generation and RumFest is thrilled to welcome them back this year. Celebrity chefs and presenters will also be speaking throughout the course of the two days on the Angostura Bittersstage allowing visitors to taste, discover and explore rum from a totally unique perspective, beyond rum as just a drink.
Photo courtesy whisky-show.com
The stage will also host the winner of the Angostura Bitters’ Ultimate Chef Competition. Through rigorous rounds of cook-offs in the lead up to RumFest hosted by leading Camden restaurant, Cottons and judged by members of the public, press and industry expert, the winning chef will present live on stage and then be flown to Trinidad & Tobago’s Food Festival later that month. An incredible prize for an outstanding chef and visitors will have the chance to hear their wisdoms at this year’s RumFest.
BOUTIQUE RUMFEST
Cocktail special. Photo courtesy amountainofcrushice.com
Boutique RumFest celebrates new and/or small, independent Rums and Cachaca brands. Although only in its second year, and due to the overwhelming success of 2011, this year’s Boutique RumFest will take place over both RumFest days rather than one, opening its doors to Trade and Press.
Due to Rum’s growing popularity and a large rise in smaller brands available on the market, Boutique RumFest offers a platform for emerging distillers to showcase new products and be exposed to key industry figures. Attendees will be given the opportunity to gain a real insight into these developing brands and will gain a unique insight into the world of this burgeoning spirit.
RumFest takes place Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th October 2012 at the brand new Olympic venue, London’s ExCeL Exhibition Centre. Standard tickets for this year’s RumFest, The Rum Experience are now on sale and includes access to RumFest and The Tropical Food Market.
Splendid colour on display with rums. Photo courtesy now-here-this-timeout.com
Weekend tickets are priced at £40, while Saturday tickets are priced at £25 and Sunday Tickets are priced at £20. All tickets are available from the RumFest website.
VIP tickets are priced at £40 for Saturday and £35 for Sunday and allows access to the event one hour before general admissions, queue jump and access to the VIP room. Trade visitors are given access to Boutique RumFest but must pre register. Registration is open now.
