The fourth annual Miami Rum Renaissance Festival, the largest gathering of rum experts and professionals in the world, will commence April 16 to 22 in South Florida.
Rum judges from around the globe will convene to conduct their annual International Rum Expert Panel Tasting Competition while rum brands from the Caribbean and beyond assemble to promote their products at VIP parties and grand tasting events for the spirits trade. The event also draws eager rum enthusiast consumers from far and wide.
The week-long series of events begins on Monday, April 16 with the Bartender’s Bash event hosted by the best bartenders and mixologists in South Florida, sponsored by Barritt’s Ginger Beer, along with Fee Brothers bitters and specialty products.
In addition to VIP parties hosted all week for the trade, spirits press and professionals, the Grand Tasting events on Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22 at the Deauville Beach Resort on Miami Beach are expected to attract thousands of rum enthusiasts throughout South Florida and more than 36 countries.
According to event organizers Robert and Robin Burr, their Miami Rum Fest has doubled in size each year, a testament to the fact that consumer interest in sugar cane spirits is growing rapidly, faster than any other category of liquor.
“The vast range of fine rums now coming to the market reinforces our prediction that rum is indeed enjoying a renaissance of appreciation,” said Robert Burr, festival promoter and author of Rob’s Rum Guide. “We’re seeing an explosion of top-tier family reserves, luxury sipping rums and premium products on the shelves in South Florida, with no signs of abatement. New rums are joining the legacy Caribbean classics to bolster the category and provide consumers with a fantastic array of choices of sipping rums. We’re also seeing many new high quality rums specially designed for creating great cocktails.”
The Miami Rum Renaissance Festival offers an unparalleled opportunity for consumers and the trade to learn about — and sample — the best rums in the world over the two-day grand tasting events. The festival features more than 20,000 square feet of exhibit space at the Deauville Beach Resort.
“We’re very excited to see so many new rum brands and island lifestyle products participating this year,” said Robin Burr, exhibits manager. “We’ve nearly doubled the size of our main exhibit space once again to bring festival partipants a wider variety of rums and related products from around the world.”
Rum lovers can choose between $40 day passes to the grand tasting events or $250 VIP passes granting all-access admission to a week long series of VIP parties and special events.
For more information on the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival, activities planned during Miami Rum Week and exhibits at Miami Rum Fest, visit the web site at www.RumRenaissance.com or call 305-443-7973.
