For those of you who may not have realised, today is National Rum Day and for those of us in the UK there’s still time to join in. Now I’m all for celebrating my spirit of choice, but what exactly does it mean for it to be National Rum Day? Well simply put I’m not actually sure and I don’t appear to be the only rum blogger who doesn’t. Even the National Rum Day Website is somewhat lacking of any details of what it actually means or whether there’s any history as to why the 16th August was selected for this wonderful day of celebration.

However a quick search on the Internet throws up a number of articles, including these from Forbes, USA Today, the Independent and even a selection of rum based cocktails and their associated rums on the Whisky Exchange website.

But for those of us who responsibly enjoy Rum, I’m sure we don’t see anything wrong with a special day in the diary as an additional excuse to raise a glass. So whether your preference is neat, over ice, a Rum Cocktail or even just a Rum & Coke, raise a glass in support of our wonderfully obscure day of celebration: National Rum Day.

TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR RUMFEST
THE UK’S BIGGEST CELEBRATION OF RUM

Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th October 2015 
London’s ILEC, Earl’s Court
rumfest.co.uk

Following on from lasts year’s success, the ninth annual RumFest is already on course for its best year yet, taking rum lovers on a voyage of discovery through the glorious world of rum. Launched by Global Rum Ambassador Ian Burrell, the The Rum Experience’s RumFest has become one of the biggest events on the rum calendar and caters for everyone who enjoys a tipple, from novices to fully fledged rum connoisseurs. 2015 will see RumFest soar to new heights thanks to a refined, rum-fuelled programme set to both educate and entertain. Whether a keen rum enthusiast, all-round spirit lover or new to the category, RumFest is the one-stop shop for all to embrace rum as a lifestyle choice.

A day ticket to RumFest gives attendees unrivalled access to try and buy over 400 different blends from around the world. Continuing the success of last year, the Golden Tot tokens return. Available on the day for just £5, the Golden Tots open the doors to rum’s elite and allows the more serious rum enthusiast to try rums that usually retail for over £200 a bottle.

Seminars and workshops take place across the two days where brands, rum ambassadors and leading industry figures give an in-depth insight into the world of rum including rum and food pairing and the making of rums. Top blenders, mixologists and distillers will also be on hand to teach ticket holders the art of cocktail making as well as more ways to enjoy their favourite rums. In a new move for 2015 RumFest’s trade sister show Boutique RumFest will make an appearance across the two days, giving the rum super fan unprecedented access to selected rums with private tastings that have previously been reserved only for those who work in the industry.

Other highlights for 2015 include the return of RumFest’s Auction in partnership with Christie’s auction house. A must see for this year, RumFest is hoping to smash last year’s grand total where over 20 precious and rare rum were sold off for charity. The RumFest’s famous food offering will deliver mouth watering cuisine from exotic rum making locations and temperatures are set to rise with live stage demos showcasing rum pairings, cooking demos, cocktail competitions and more. Carnival Hour rounds off the RumFest experience each day in the ultimate party finale, featuring live bands and dancers that embrace the fun and social spirit of rum.

RumFest Founder and Global Rum Ambassador Ian Burrell is the leading name in rum. Dedicating his life to promoting rum and rum culture around the world, over the years Burrell has been recognised with a number of industry awards as well as regularly appearing as a rum expert at events and on television shows like Sunday Brunch, the Alan Titchmarsh Show and more.

Speaking about the return of RumFest Burrell says, “We’ve refined RumFest this year into something very special. We’ll be taking rum lovers on the UK’s biggest celebration of rum, showing them the fun side of the culture, while at the same time giving an insight into the spirit so they can take home what they’ve learnt, armed with a better understanding of the spirit.”

The RumFest takes place in London at the ILEC, 17th to 18th October 2015. Standard day tickets are now on sale at £49.95, which includes access to all areas of the the event and tastings from all exhibitors. VIP tickets are on sale from £75 and allow for early access of one hour ahead of standard ticket buyers along with a two course Caribbean lunch and RumFest goodie bag. Golden Tot Tokens are £5 each and allow for additional access to the more premium rums on offer. One token can be exchanged for rum retailing £80 – £100 and more expensive rums will be available for additional tokens. Tickets to the new private rum tastings will be announced soon. For full information on RumFest and to buy tickets head to rumfest.co.uk.

London Cocktail Week (6th-12th October) heralds the start of a glittering week of activity for the award-winning El Dorado Rum, which will culminate in a series of master classes and tutored tastings at RumFest at Earls Court on Sunday 12th October.

El Dorado will also be working with Trailer Happiness, one of London’s most Tiki-Tastic bars, where a rum and food pairing event will take place, and Harvey Nichols, who will be offering a twist on the 16th Century version of a Mojito, the El Draque, named after Sir Francis Drake.

Beginning on Monday 6th October, El Dorado will be hosting its first ever Pop-up in the basement of 71 Monmouth Street just off Seven Dials, where guests will be invited to discover the legendary Lost City of Gold.

Voted the world’s best rum a record eight times, guests will take a journey through the rainforests of Guyana, the home of El Dorado rum, where they’ll see and hear the sights and sounds of the lush, tropical surroundings which are indicative of the South American country. They’ll take in the expanse of Kaieteur Falls, the highest single drop waterfall in the world, as they delve deeper into the greenery to find the luscious, liquid gold of El Dorado rums.

Cocktails made with El Dorado’s superb range of rums will be available along with the opportunity to sample tasting flights of the El Dorado range.  A planned series of sessions will be hosted by Stefanie Holt, the award winning international brand ambassador for El Dorado Rums, at the Pop-up over the week.  Tickets are available from the London Cocktail Week website – http://londoncocktailweek.ticketsource.co.uk/ .  The sessions are as follows:

• Tuesday 7th October – 7pm until 8.30pm.  El Dorado Rum and Chocolate Pairing.
• Wednesday 8th October from 7 until 8.30pm.  El Dorado Rum and Savoury Pairing.
• Thursday 9th October from 7pm until 8.30pm.  El Dorado 25 Year Old Rum Tasting.
• Friday 10th October from 7pm until 8.30pm.  El Dorado Single Barrel Rum Tasting.

Saturday 11th October from 2pm until 3.30pm.  The last of the sessions at the Pop-up.  Here’s a chance to put your taste buds to the test and put the information you’ve learnt over the week, into practice.  The last session is ‘Guess the Rum’ – a blind tasting competition.  Think you know the El Dorado range?  Pop in to the Pop-up and blind test three rums from the El Dorado range.  You’ll be up against the clock but it’s worth it – a bottle of El Dorado 15 Year Old will be awarded to the person who guesses correctly in the quickest time.

Harvey Nichols Fifth Floor Bar will be offering a cocktail made with El Dorado 5 Year Old to those with a London Cocktail Week Wristband for only £4 over the course of the week. For those without a wristband, the cocktail is £5.50.  The Golden Draque, created by Harvey Nichols’ bar manager, Ivan Romano, takes inspiration from the El Draque, named after Sir Francis Drake and thought to be the 16th Century version of the Mojito. The Golden reference is a nod to El Dorado – meaning gold in English- which is used in the cocktail  Here’s how to make it:

GOLDEN DRAQUE

Ingredients:

50 ml El Dorado 5 Year Old
25 ml Roasted pineapple and coffee bean puree*
25 ml freshly squeezed lime juice
8 mint leaves
15ml gomme syrup
20 ml soda water

*To make the roasted pineapple and coffee bean puree, cut one pineapple into cubes, add 50 gram of coffee beans and cook into an oven on low heat for 12 hours. Remove and discard the coffee bean sand blend the pineapple cubes for three minutes until you get a creamy puree.

Garnish: Mint dusted in gold and coffee beans

Method: Gently muddle the mint with the sugar and lime juice.  Add the puree and El Dorado and crushed ice. Stir together and top up with soda water.

The rum fun doesn’t stop there.  Trailer Happiness in Notting Hill will be offering a selection of three cocktails made with El Dorado Rum, which will be available for £4 to those with a London Cocktail Week Wristband. They are also hosting at Rum Club Food Pairing with El Dorado rum  which will be hosted by Stefanie Holt on Monday 6th October from 7.30-8.30pm.  Tickets cost £5 and can be purchased from the London Cocktail Week website http://londoncocktailweek.ticketsource.co.uk/ .

About London Cocktail Week

Back for the fifth year, London Cocktail Week – the biggest drinks festival in the UK – is just around the corner. From Monday 6 to Sunday 12 October 2014 get ready to shake, sip and party your way to a fantastic celebration of our capital’s unrivalled cocktail culture.

To be part of London Cocktail Week 2014, festival-goers must buy a wristband, which cost just £10 if booked in advance or £15 once the week begins. Wristbands give  access to the huge amount of free sampling and cocktail demonstrations, as well as the renowned self-guided Cocktail Tours; with 250 of the best bars across the capital  throwing open their doors to offer bespoke and unlimited cocktails for just £4 all week. Each bar will be mapped out in your FREE London Bar Guide, so there will be no problem navigating around.

The LCW experience starts from wristband collection at one of the London Cocktail Week Hubs from 12noon until 9pm; hives of activity guaranteed to get you into the cocktail spirit. Each Hub has their own unique twist and is placed in the epicentres of the main bar areas– be sure to set aside four evenings to visit them all!

In the run-up to the UK’s largest rum-tasting exhibition, RumFest, The Whisky Exchange will be hosting a soirée to look into the world of aged rums.

They’re delighted to welcome Stefanie Holt, International Brand Ambassador for El Dorado Rum, to present a range of sipping rums from around the Caribbean.

Although Stefanie works for Demerara Distillers, makers of El Dorado Rum, she is very much a champion of rum as a whole. Basically, if you’re drinking her rum then that’s great, but so long as you’re drinking any quality rum, it’s all good!

Education is the name of the game and to this end, Stefanie will present a range of seven aged rums. Each has its own unique style and is representative of the island or country that it is from.

The line-up for this exotic Caribbean cruise is as follows:

• Matusalem 15yo Gran Reserva
• Diplomatico Single Vintage 2000
• Barbancourt 15yo
• Rhum JM 2002
• Appleton Estate 12yo
• El Dorado 15yo
• El Dorado 21yo

The tasting will take place on Monday 29 September, 7.30pm. Tickets are priced £30 each.

As ever, tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited to two per customer. Tickets went on sale at 3pm, Wednesday 17 September

To book your ticket, call: 020 7403 8688 or visit the shop:

The Whisky Exchange Vinopolis
1 Bank End, London, SE1 9BU