In a move that sounds more like his latest April Fools joke, Our Illustrious Leader of Rum Imbibement, Ian Burrell sets forth today on his own Antarctic exploration to help spark the debate about water wastage and to raise money for the non-profit organization, Wine to Water. While I suspect that the local Penguins may not feel that they themselves have much of a shortage of water , I’m quite sure that they will be especially grateful for the chance to explore the delights of a few tots of rum and in fact I’m pretty sure Pingu might make more sense after a few…

“Ian Burrell, Global Rum Ambassador, Founder and Director of The Rum Experience and UK RumFest and owner of Cottons Camden Rhum Shack & Restaurant, will be travelling thousands of miles across three continents and two oceans as well as facing the challenging conditions of Antarctica to build the worlds coldest pop-up rum shack, whilst raising money for the esteemed water charity, Wine to Water. Setting sail on 25th March, Ian will endeavour to serve the forty-strong expedition crew and local community, delicious tropical rum cocktails in sub-zero temperatures in a world first.”

“Taking the trend of innovative pop-up bars to a pioneering new level, the worlds most revered Rum Ambassador will be bringing a taste of the Tropics to the South Pole all in the name of charity, building from scratch a carefully designed pop-up rum shack where rum will be flowing, cocktails will be shaken and ice will be in abundance. Supporting this springs Wine to Water campaign, Ian Burrell will be raising money for the non-for-profit organisation focused on providing clean water to people in desperate need. Nearly 1 billion people in the world today lack access to adequate water and 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation.”

“Ian Burrell has a personal ambition to give something back. As the Global Rum Ambassador, mixing cocktails, judging competitions and travelling the world spreading the gospel of rum is a day-to-day way of life and has brought to his attention the high levels of water wasted throughout the industry. With the components of many drinks made up of over 60% of water including the abundance of wasted ice and a vast proportion discarded without being consumed, Wine For Water is the perfect organisation to help raise awareness and support the global water crisis.”

“Having spent the last 10 years spreading the gospel of rum throughout the world, visiting Antarctica seemed like the next natural step to bring rum to an entirely new destination and audience. I am thrilled to be travelling with an expedition of forty fellow adventurers to build the local community their very own pop up rum shack and for a fantastic cause. All money raised will go towards the Wine to Water campaign that will ultimately transform peoples lives by providing running clean water and raising the global water crisis. Ian Burrell, Global Rum Ambassador”

“All of us at Wine To Water were so thrilled and honored to have Mr. Burrell choose us as his partnering charity for such an awesome campaign. In many of the countries where we work women and children have to walk hours every day to gather a life giving resource that we in the bar industry take for granted. I am certain this campaign will not only shed some light on humanities most precious resource, but it will also give us an opportunity to serve thousands more in need of clean drinking water.” Doc Hendley

While I can’t deny I’m still somewhat sceptical about the likelihood of this trip, despite the confirmation from Ian’s PR team, the reality is that at the very least, the Wine to Water campaign and its message will get additional coverage and this is only a good thing. Of course if it is for real I wish Ian all the best with his latest endeavour and hope he’s able to raise a lot of money for a great cause…

This weekend (13th and 14th October 2012) sees the return of the UK RumFest and this year’s show has moved to new premises at the ExCel London Exhibition Centre in London’s Docklands. Promising to bring an “unrivalled combination of the rarest and most delicious rums from across the globe”, the show is back for it sixth successive year and will be continuing to mix rum, Caribbean food and a Carnival atmosphere of live music and exotic rhythms.

For anyone with at least a passing interest in Rum and Sugar Cane Spirits, this is the place to be with some of the biggest names in the business sharing the hall with the smaller and boutique rum brands, who may not be so instantly recognisable to the average consumer, but whose drinks often rival the big boys for quality and taste.

While some of these smaller brands will be out on the main floor, some of them will only be available at this year’s Boutique RumFest, which is a trade only show, taking place over both days of RumFest.

This year’s exhibitors at both the Boutique RumFest and the actual RumFest include: Angostura, Appleton Estate, Bacardi, Banks, Ron Barceló, Blackwell Rum, Ron Botran, Bristol Classic Rum, Ron Brugal, Chairman’s Reserve,  Cruzan, Doorly’s, Ron Diplomático, Don Papa, Don Q, Rhum Dzama, El Dorado, Flor de Caña, Green Island Rum, Gosling’s, Koko Kanu, Lamb’s, Ron Legendario, Mount Gay, Mount Gilboa, Old Grog, Pink Pigeon, Plantation, Pusser’s, Pyrat, Ron de Jeremy, R St Barth, Rum Fire, St Aubin, St Nicholas Abbey, Takamaka Bay, Toz,  Wray & Nephew, XM Royal and Ron Zacapa.

Alongside the exhibitor stands with their 400+ rums, visitors can also extend their knowledge in all things Rum related at the Rum University Room, where they can learn about the history of rum and rum cocktails with a number of seminars provided by master blenders, distillers and drinks experts.

In addition to the Rum University, you’ll also have the chance to find out what goes on behind the scenes at some of the country’s top Rum bars, with the Cocktail Academy. Bar tenders from bars such as London’s Trailer Happiness, Wax Jambu, Mahiki and Manchester’s The Liars Club, along with several others, will show visitors what makes them the best in world at making and creating Rum cocktails.

For further details, please look at the RumFest 2012 Master Classes page. These seminars and tastings have limited spaces and as such operate on a first come first serve basis, so please register at the main entrance of Rumfest.

 In addition to the rum tasting opportunities, the foodie’s paradise that is the Tropical Food Market is set to expand on its success of last year, showcasing the finest delicacies and cuisine from the Tropics. Highlights are set to include: chocolatier Paul Wayne Gregory and Global Rum Ambassador Ian Burrell, who together will launch a bespoke range of chocolates that have been crafted to perfectly compliment the unique flavours found in a number of carefully selected rum brands; Caymanas Rum Cake, which following last year’s RumFest has secured a deal to stock its products with one of the UKs leading supermarkets; as well as the opportunity to see celebrity chefs and presenters on the Angostura Bitters stage, who will be tasting, discovering and exploring rum beyond simply drinking it.

Alongside the food and drink enticing the senses, attendees will be able to feel the tropical spirit through the music and Carnival vibe of Mas Band: Bacchanalia.

Returning for another year of Soca and Samba music,  Bacchanalia will be bringing the Carnival spirit to a possibly cold and dreary London with uplifting dancing and stunning costumes.

Tickets are available in advance online at £25 for the Saturday, £20 for the Sunday or for a weekend pass at £40 per person. For your money you will receive: Access to the world’s biggest Rum Festival from 12pm to 5pm; with over 400 rums to sample; 5 Rum sampling vouchers; Live musical entertainment, cocktail master-classes and demonstrations* and your exclusive goody bag with tasting glass and show guide. *subject to availability.

For those new to RumFest, the sampling voucher is the show’s currency and will need to be handed over for each sample. 1 voucher = 1 sample. Additional vouchers can be bought from the front desk for £1 each.

There’s also a limited number of VIP tickets for both days, priced at £40 for the Saturday and £35 for the Sunday, giving: access to the show from 11am – an hour before general admissions; fast track entry into the show; entry into the V.I.P  room, including 3 cocktail tokens; Rum Experience Rum Cake; a show goody bag, including 5 Rum sampling vouchers, tasting glass and show guide.

Those in the drinks trade can also attend The Boutique Rumfest, where you will have the chance to explore a range of new and boutique distillery rum. So make sure you register for the show and head down to the ExCel Exhibition Centre over the 13th and 14th October. Please remember that entry to the Boutique RumFest still requires a valid ticket to RumFest.

I know that I’m finishing with the same line as I did last year, but I think it so amply sums up my expectations for this year’s RumFest: So for more rum than any one man or woman could handle, live Caribbean music, great food and a totally tropical weekend, make sure you finish the London Cocktail Week by heading to the ExCel London Exhibition Centre for the UK RumFest, this 13th and 14th October 2012.

Among the more interesting bits of news picked up at Imbibe Live 2012 yesterday, was finding out that Frank Ward’s excellent Bajan Mount Gilboa is lined up to double its available portfolio with a great new white rum.

Although it shares some similarities with its aged golden rum brother; they’re both triple distilled from pot still, both have small distillation runs and both rums have had nothing added or removed, it’s the differences in their production that separate them apart. For one, the white has never seen the inside of a wooden barrel. Coming straight from the still and with no charcoal filtration, it’s the difference in the cuts of distillation that are key to allowing this unaged rum to have a very smooth start with only a light spiciness on the finish, while retaining all of its light fruity flavours.

Due for release initially in the US this summer, this should be followed by a UK release that will hopefully coincide with October’s London based RumFest. Having been lucky enough to try a sample, I can happily say that Mount Gilboa’s full flavour white rum should prove as popular with consumers as it should do with bar tenders.

If there’s one thing that the Captain Morgan brand can never be accused of, it’s that the Captain doesn’t know how to party. And like any good privateer, it appears that any occasion is an excuse for the Captain and the Morganettes to have a great and responsible time.

Their latest European promotion revolves around this summer’s European Championship Finals and includes the cheesy, but catchy Party like a Champion music video and the Free Trophy Pitcher available in UK supermarkets with special bottles of Captain Morgan’s Spiced.

So in the spirit of the Captain, I’ll be watching tonight’s Spain v Italy final and raising a glass of Captain & Cola, while cheering on Spain to a successive victory.

Don’t forget to check out Captain Morgan’s website and the GB Facebook page for more promotions and competitions.