With a week and half to go until this year’s UK RumFest, what can you expect of your day out immersing yourself in all things rum? Well for starters, Rum and a lot of it.

It may sound obvious, but with so many rum producers exhibiting at the show and with most of them having more than one expression of rum available, for those who have never been before, if can be quite an overwhelming experience as to how much rum there is to choose from on the day.

This year’s exhibitors list includes: Angostura Rum, Appleton Estate Rum, Banks Rum, Blackwell Rum, Bristol Classic Rum, Chairman’s Reserve Rum, Cruzan Rum, Don Papa Rum, DonQ Rum, Doorly’s Rum, El Dorado Rum, English Harbour Rum, Gosling’s Rum, Green Island Rum, Koko Kanu, Lamb’s Rum, Mount Gay Rum, Mount Gilboa Rum, Old Grog Rum, Pink Pigeon Rum, Plantation Rum, Pusser’s Rum, Pyrat Rum, R St Barth, Ron Bacardi, Ron Barcelo, Ron Botran, Ron Brugal, Ron de Jeremy, Ron Diplomático, Ron Fortuna, Ron Zacapa, Rum Fire, St. Aubin Rum, St. Nicholas Abbey Rum, Toz Rum, Virgin Gorda Rum, Wray & Nephew Rum, XM Royal Rum

While some of this rum will be available in the form of cocktails, most will be provided in the form of 1cl tasters – all the better for being able to appreciate the flavour and character of the rum. For those of you who are not used to drinking spirits neat, the best piece of advise to be offered is pace yourself, drink plenty of water from the various water coolers dispersed around the show and follow the RumFest Etiquette Guidelines.

So what else can you look forward to? Well the UK RumFest describes itself as:

… an international celebration of rum & cane spirit. The Rum Experience prides itself on bringing together the finest rum, great food and a range of educating seminars and entertainment to make learning about rum both fun and stimulating.

From personal experience, this statement does truly sum up what to expect when visiting RumFest and it’s also fair to say that words alone cannot sum up the experience. Of course, if you don’t follow the advice given above, you might find it even harder to put anything into words the following day… So lets forget words for a moment and rely on the old adage of a picture paints a thousand words and check out the Rum@Charlosa Pinterest board for some photographic inspiration of some of the things to expect at RumFest.

And what of the great food, education and the fun mentioned above. Well it includes: live entertainment, such as Salsa, Soca, Reggae, Zouk and Samba; the Tropical Food Market; the Cooking Demonstration Stage (hosted by Chef Hasan de Four); Food and Rum Pairings; the chance to win holidays to the Caribbean and visit a real rum distillary; live cocktail demonstrations; cocktails to try from some of the UKs best mixologists; hundreds of rums to try and buy and several Rum Experience University Masterclasses conducted by industry experts and master blenders.

All being well you’re now sold on the idea of the rum, but which shores must you head to with a steady wind in search of this here pirate’s booty. Well, for the second year in the events history you can expect to set sail towards the ExCel Exhibition Centre on the northern quay of the Royal Victoria Dock in London Docklands. The nearest station is Custom House on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), which is served from either the Tower Gateway or Stratford lines through to Beckton.

The UK RumFest 2013 opens its doors at 12pm midday on Saturday 12th October, with last pours at 4.30pm and closes at 5pm. For those of you who either can’t make the Saturday or just love rum that much that you need to head back for a second day, you’ll be pleased to know that RumFest is also opening its doors for the same times on Sunday 13th October.

Now you know when and where to head for your rum, how much is this little expedition going to cost you to get there. Well RumFest tickets come in two flavours and cost £25 and £45 each day for the Rum Experience Ticket and the Connoisseur Cove Ticket respectively. For the serious rum lover, you can alternatively purchase a weekend Connoisseur Cove Ticket for £80, giving a saving of £10 over separate tickets for both days. All tickets are subject to a booking fee.

So what do you get for your money and which ticket should you go for. Well this will largely depend on what you’re interested in for the day. Both tickets will give you:

• The Rum Bars sampling 1cl tots in exchange for your tokens ( full sized cocktails will be on sale)

• Small selection of rum brands sampling 1cl tots in exchange for your tokens

• The Main Entertainment Stage

• Seminar Rooms

• Tropical Food Market stands selling hot and cold food

• Food Demonstration Stage hosted by Chef Hasan De Four

• 5 tasting sample tokens to exchange for 1cl sample and 50ml mini cocktail samples within the Rum Experience Area ( no more tokens will be available to purchase).

But only the Connoisseurs Cove tickets will also include:

• Entry to the Connoisseurs Cove with a selection of brands exhibiting their premium rums and serving 1cl samples (no drink tokens needed here)

And for those of you in the professional drinks trade, make sure you register for The Boutique RumFest, which runs alongside RumFest, for the opportunity to see and try many new brands and expressions, many of whom are looking for UK distribution.

So now you know what to expect, what are you waiting for, mark Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th October in your diary, head over to the UK RumFest 2013 Website and book your tickets now and make you so you finish London Cocktail Week with some serious rum fun.

Oh did I not mention it’s London Cocktail Week next week… You wait ages for a drinks event to turn up and then they all turn up at the same time – no wait, isn’t that meant to be buses… Anyway, make sure you also check out the London Cocktail Week website to help get you in the right spirit for the UK RumFest 2013.

GLOBAL RUM AMBASSADOR IAN BURRELL LAUNCHES THE INAUGURAL THE RUM EXPERIENCE UNIVERSITY
ANDALUSIA, SPAIN

A DIPLOMA COURSE OFFERING INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AND RUM ENTHUSIASTS
AN EXTENSIVE AND IMMERSIVE STUDY OF RUM
16th-20th September 2013
www.rum-uni.com

Opening its doors this September for the first time, The Rum Experience University is designed for anyone looking to expand their core knowledge of the world of rum, whether they are bartenders, rum brand ambassadors, journalists, industry specialists or simply keen rum enthusiasts. The intensive five day course will cover everything rum related, taking guests through production methods, the history of rum, rum blending, distilling and cocktail making like never before. Offering a well rounded package, the university will also look at public speaking and how to prepare and execute a rum presentation, not to mention exclusive talks with leading worldwide industry experts. Speakers include Global Rum Ambassador Ian Burrell, Master Distiller and ambassador of all rums, Richard Seale from Four Square Distillery in Barbados, World Tiki Authorative Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, food scientist Bernard Lahouse, cocktail historians and authors Anastasia Miller and Jared Brown, International Rum Ambassador David Cordoba, NLP Master Practitioner Don Smith. More exciting names to come.

The Rum Experience University course will be an immersive and intense experience. Taking place at the Best Western Hotel in Salobrena, guests will be treated to panoramic views of the Mediterranean sea, overlooking golden beaches within the stunning Spanish weather. This sub-tropical climate has provided for centuries the perfect conditions for growing sugar cane and daily excursions will take guests to various locations to explore the culture, history and making of rum. Afternoon trips will include journeys to local sugar cane fields, the Pre-Industrial Sugar Cane Museum, which was built on the ruins of an ancient sugar cane factory and features Europe’s oldest sugar mill and a myriad of exhibitions and there will also be a visit to the famous Rum Montero Distillery. The distillery was founded in 1963 by Francisco Montero and as the only European rum distillery open to the public, students will get to see first hand how rum is made.

Founder Ian Burrell is the Global Rum Ambassador and Founder of UK RumFest and The Rum Experience. As the leading name in rum, Ian has used his in-depth knowledge and passion for the rum category to raise awareness of rum by educating and promoting rum culture throughout the world. Ian’s vision is to create a stand alone qualification that has the experience at the heart of the programme:”There has never ever been an official course to become a spirits ambassador, let alone a rum ambassador. Too many brand ambassadors are thrown in the deep end and expected to promote categories and brands based on a PowerPoint presentation but without ever having visited the distillery or maturation warehouses where their products are made. We are seeking to empower our students with knowledge, and the tools to use that knowledge”.

Limited places on The Rum Experience University are now available from £899 providing a comprehensive course of study and an industry recognised Rum diploma. Each place is inclusive of Bed, breakfast, lunch and dinner at The Rum University Hotel, 5 days of expert masterclasses & seminars, 5 afternoon rum excursions, Rum Experience University book, Rum diploma – merit or distinction. Flights and transfer to hotel are not included. For more information and how to purchase tickets visit The Rum Experience University website.

GLOBAL RUM AMBASSADOR IAN BURRELL LAUNCHES THE INAUGURAL THE RUM EXPERIENCE UNIVERSITY
ANDALUSIA, SPAIN

A DIPLOMA COURSE OFFERING INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AND RUM ENTHUSIASTS
AN EXTENSIVE AND IMMERSIVE STUDY OF RUM
16th-20th September 2013
www.rum-uni.com

Opening its doors this September for the first time, The Rum Experience University is designed for anyone looking to expand their core knowledge of the world of rum, whether they are bartenders, rum brand ambassadors, journalists, industry specialists or simply keen rum enthusiasts. The intensive five day course will cover everything rum related, taking guests through production methods, the history of rum, rum blending, distilling and cocktail making like never before. Offering a well rounded package, the university will also look at public speaking and how to prepare and execute a rum presentation, not to mention exclusive talks with leading worldwide industry experts. Speakers include Global Rum Ambassador Ian Burrell, Master Distiller and ambassador of all rums, Richard Seale from Four Square Distillery in Barbados, World Tiki Authorative Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, food scientist Bernard Lahouse, cocktail historians and authors Anastasia Miller and Jared Brown, International Rum Ambassador David Cordoba, NLP Master Practitioner Don Smith. More exciting names to come.

The Rum Experience University course will be an immersive and intense experience. Taking place at the Best Western Hotel in Salobrena, guests will be treated to panoramic views of the Mediterranean sea, overlooking golden beaches within the stunning Spanish weather. This sub-tropical climate has provided for centuries the perfect conditions for growing sugar cane and daily excursions will take guests to various locations to explore the culture, history and making of rum. Afternoon trips will include journeys to local sugar cane fields, the Pre-Industrial Sugar Cane Museum, which was built on the ruins of an ancient sugar cane factory and features Europe’s oldest sugar mill and a myriad of exhibitions and there will also be a visit to the famous Rum Montero Distillery. The distillery was founded in 1963 by Francisco Montero and as the only European rum distillery open to the public, students will get to see first hand how rum is made.

Founder Ian Burrell is the Global Rum Ambassador and Founder of UK RumFest and The Rum Experience. As the leading name in rum, Ian has used his in-depth knowledge and passion for the rum category to raise awareness of rum by educating and promoting rum culture throughout the world. Ian’s vision is to create a stand alone qualification that has the experience at the heart of the programme:”There has never ever been an official course to become a spirits ambassador, let alone a rum ambassador. Too many brand ambassadors are thrown in the deep end and expected to promote categories and brands based on a PowerPoint presentation but without ever having visited the distillery or maturation warehouses where their products are made. We are seeking to empower our students with knowledge, and the tools to use that knowledge”.

Limited places on The Rum Experience University are now available from £899 providing a comprehensive course of study and an industry recognised Rum diploma. Each place is inclusive of Bed, breakfast, lunch and dinner at The Rum University Hotel, 5 days of expert masterclasses & seminars, 5 afternoon rum excursions, Rum Experience University book, Rum diploma – merit or distinction. Flights and transfer to hotel are not included. For more information and how to purchase tickets visit The Rum Experience University website.

What better news to receive on a cold and dreary day in late spring: The UK RumFest dates have been announced and along with their shiny new website, you can now buy your tickets to the UK’s biggest homage to Rum. So for all you rum lovers out there, here’s the latest press release from The Rum Experience:

“Returning to the UK’s capital this October, the world famous UK RumFest will take place on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 October 2013 and will offer visitors to London’s ExCeL Exhibition Centre the chance to embark on a voyage of rum discovery. Featuring a brand new two-tiered ticketing structure, the seventh annual UK RumFest will provide a tailor made experience catering for discerning connoisseurs and casual enthusiasts alike. This year’s UK RumFest will once again showcase over 400 of the rarest and most diverse rums from across the globe as well as feature intimate seminars hosted by industry aficionados, an extended Tropical Food Market with mouthwatering food from all over the world, plus live music and main stage presentations and holiday giveaways. UK RumFest continues to be THE premier event for educating and entertaining rum enthusiasts. Tickets are on sale now with standard tickets priced at £25 plus booking fee or premium tickets, which give access to the brand new Connoisseur Cove at £45 plus booking fee. All available from the brand new RumFest website which has also launched this week.

Rum’s popularity has soared in recent years, becoming the UK’s fastest growing spirit and the drink of choice for millions across the globe. Today, The Rum Experience, founders of the UK RumFest are thrilled to invite rum lovers to join them at the world’s largest celebration of rum culture, the seventh annual UK RumFest. After 2012’s sell out success, this year’s UK RumFest will feature a series of innovations to the programme, all of which are designed to deliver an excellent experience for UK RumFest visitors wanting to enjoy some rum-fuelled fun and entertainment. This year’s event will feature a mixture of rum bars, providing the opportunity to sample the best known brands on the market, either as a 1 centilitre free sample in exchange for a token or as a professionally mixed cocktail, alongside a series of stands from carefully selected rum brands.

Bringing together the industry’s top blenders, distillers and mixologists, visitors are invited on a journey of rum discovery with a vast array of masterclasses, talks and seminars available to all ticket holders. For those who have a passion for cocktail sampling, creating or spectating, worldclass mixologists will be showcasing their skills through cocktail battles and demonstrations. The Carnival atmosphere as always will be electric and will be heightened by a bill of live music that will reverberate throughout the weekend featuring a heady mix of reggae beats, samba rhythms and traditional souk dancers. There really is no other show quite like it.

TROPICAL FOOD MARKET
Taste buds will be tantalized at this year’s extended Tropical Food Market hosting an abundance of street food outlets on hand to help soak up the rum drenched day. Embracing cuisines from across the rum regions, where the sweet sugar cane grows in abundance, traders have been invited to bring their flavours from the Caribbean, South America and Africa. Generous samples will be available and for those enticed by the cuisine on offer will be able to purchase meals from each of the food outlets. For those interested in discovering more, celebrity TV Chef Hasan De Four will be hosting the live presentations on the Demo Kitchen Stage showcasing exclusive one-off masterclasses including rum & food pairing, cooking with rum and much more to be announced very soon.

CONNOISSEUR’S COVE
For the first time, UK RumFest introduces the brand new Connoisseur’s Cove area inviting the discerning drinker to an exclusive rum haven. Visitors can sip, savour and discover some of the rarest, most exquisite premium rums from across the globe. This exclusive area is perfectly designed to take the connoisseur on an extensive rum discovery, set away from the lively Carnival crowds and creating an incredible journey. Expect some very special rums of distinctions to sample whilst educating palates like never before.

Ian Burrell, Global Rum Ambassador and founder of The Rum Experience comments, “UK RumFest is the destination event for rum lovers and we promise two days that will take each and every visitor on a journey of rum discovery. With the brand new ticketing structure we aim to cater for the discerning drinker and the casual enthusiast creating a one-off experience for all. We look forward to seeing you in October!”

UK RumFest is presented by The Rum Experience and takes place on Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th October 2013 at London’s ExCeL Exhibition Centre. Standard tickets for this year’s RumFest are now on sale from £25 and includes access to central zone featuring Rum Bars and selected Rum brands, the Tropical Food Market, seminar rooms and the Main Stage presentation area. The Connoisseur’s Cove tickets priced at £45 allowing an additional exclusive access to the most exquisite rum brands available at the moment where visitors are invited to take their journey of rum discovery to the next level. Weekend tickets are priced at £80 and include access to the Connoisseur’s Cove.”

For those rum lovers who haven’t attended before, I can’t state enough how much you will want to attend this year’s UK RumFest. To see a little glimpse of last year’s UK RumFest please take a look at the RumFest 2012 picture gallery. You can also find additional images from both last year and the 2011 UK RumFest on the Rum@Charlosa RumFest Pinterest Board.

Please check back for more details as they become available, as well as an overview of what to expect for those who haven’t previously attended the UK RumFest.