The UK RumFest returns for a bigger and better
rum experience
Kensington Olympia 2, London
Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th October 2010
12pm – 7pm
Celebrating the diversity and rapidly-growing popularity of rum, the UK RumFest sees two days of demonstrations, seminars, master classes, live salsa and samba dancing, cocktail sampling, a Tiki Cocktail Face Off, and an opportunity to win a tropical dream holiday at the world’s largest rum event.
The UK RumFest takes place this October at the all new and bigger location of Kensington Olympia 2. The world’s largest festival dedicated to rum and sugarcane spirits, will feature cocktail demonstrations and master classes from top rum industry blenders and distillers.
Whether tasting the delights of the rum induced cocktails mixed up by Europe’s leading mixologists or sampling the delicacy of rum blended with chocolate, the UK RumFest will reveal why it’s fast becoming the world’s most popular drink.
The UK RumFest will feature over 400 rums from across the globe from the Caribbean, Central and South America, Asia and Africa, including brands like Appleton Estate from Jamaica, Bacardi from Puerto Rico, Havana Club from Cuba, Mount Gay Rum from Barbados, Ron Zacapa from Guatemala and Santa Teresa from Venezuela.
The only place to see such a varied selection of rums, the UK RumFest also showcases some of the rarest rums on the planet including the world’s most expensive bottle of rum worth a whopping £26,000. Across the two days visitors can develop their knowledge of rum by listening to a number of talks and masterclasses conducted by master blenders, distillers and experts. The brainchild of Ian Burrell, UK Rum Ambassador, the event will educate and entertain rum lovers, offering an insight into the wonderfully diverse nature of rum.
World-leading mixologists will be competing against one another for the first time in the advanced Tiki Cocktail Face Off. Bartenders from the London hottest rum bars, including Mahiki, will be competing against US opponents in a challenge of champions to be the best cocktail makers both side of the Atlantic.
Speaking ahead of this year’s event, organiser and UK Rum Ambassador Ian Burrell said:
“Rum is not simply a drink but a lifestyle. The UK RumFest gives an insight into this way of life by celebrating its ever growing popularity and a chance to pass on my passions to both bartenders and consumers alike.
The weekend hosts the world’s biggest celebration of rum including tasters of the hundreds of varieties and an opportunity to watch the world’s best mixologists. The Rum Experience really does offer something for everyone looking to develop their appreciation of this wonderful drink.”
  
Away from the professionals, all visitors to UK RumFest can compete to win a once in a lifetime luxury Caribbean holiday to the rum capital of the world.
This truly amazing prize will give one lucky winner the chance to savour rum in the place of its birth. UK RumFest is not simply an opportunity to taste the delights of hundreds of diverse rums from across the world but also a celebration and enjoyment of its wider culture.
Rum and chocolate sessions will open up the palette to a new dimension of flavours and once visitors have perused the stands, they can relax in the Bacardi Dominoes and Daiquiri Zone and enjoy a game of Dominoes, one of the tropics’ most relaxing pastimes.
Live music bands will be playing out their reggae rhythms accompanied by samba, salsa and zouk dancers and salsa classes to provide an immersive experience of rum culture.
Golden Rum Barrel Awards
The Rum Experience introduces the world’s first internationally recognised award for Rum – the Golden Barrel Rum
Awards.
This award will be given to rums from various rum categories, as nominated by an academy of rum experts and journalists from all over the world. Each rum aficionado will nominate their favourite or the rum they deem to be the most exciting within the chosen category. The top six rums from each category will then be announced and judged by an international panel of rum experts in London.
The winners from each category will be announced at The Golden Rum Barrel Awards and dinner on Saturday 16th October. There will also be recognition for those who work tirelessly within the rum industry and recognised through The UK Rum Ambassador of the Year and Global Rum Ambassador of the Year awards.
And for the very first time there will be the Champions of Champions Rum Cocktail competition which will pit all of the UK’s rum cocktails winners against each other in a consumer tasting competition.
www.rumfest.co.uk |
