Don Q’s Signature Release Single Barrel 2009 was hand selected by the master distiller from a selection of the Serrallés family’s private rum stocks, then laid to rest in charred American oak casks before bottling in 2019.
This limited edition light bodied aged rum is an expertly crafted noble spirit — a fine example of the Puerto Rican style.
It was designed following the trend of Don Q’s Signature Release Single Barrel Collection — after the 2005 and 2007 editions — as a light rum, distilled in a multi-column alembic still and then aged at 150 proof for a decade in single-use white oak barrels, previously used for Bourbon whiskey.
Tasting Notes
The medium amber color suggests a long resting period in oak. Aromas of fruit and spice with smokey oak dominate, before honey butter and vanilla over fruit cake and compote, with just a hint of molasses. On the palate, a bold entry of toasted oak leads to a creamy mouthfeel with butter cookie, accented by vanillin and Crème brûlée, before hints of bitter cocoa and charred oak linger in the medium long finish.
Enjoying Single Barrel 2009
For upscale cocktails like a Rum Old Fashioned, this light bodied, well-aged spirit is a great choice, or enjoy sipping it slowly on the rocks in a generous tumbler.
This 750ml bottle of Don Q Signature Release Single Barrel 2009, bottled at 40% abv, sells for about $49.
The third expression in the Distillery Collection — Diplomático Pot Still Rum defines and delivers the rich essence of Diplomático’s signature style.
The distillery in La Miel, Venezuela has a long history of producing fine rums, using traditional copper pot stills, as well as batch and column stills. This expression highlights the classic John Dore copper pots — originally used in Scotland to produce whisky — that provide the heart of robust and delightful flavor in the various blends.
Here, isolated for reference, is the pot still component, made from sugar cane honey in a long fermentation cycle, before resting in small American white oak casks for eight years.
At 47% ABV, the rich, deep and complex flavor profile easily embodies this higher proof spirit with a fine balance. The resulting intensity earns Diplomático Pot Still Rum a reputation as a fine sipper or a potent component in any classic cocktail.
Tasting Notes
The deep amber color signals a well rested spirit. Aromas of sweet fruit cake and vanilla are accented by toasted oak, smoked honey, caramel and dark fruit. On the palate, a dry entry of charred oak, coffee and cocoa leads to a suggestion of burnt sugar and toffee before ripe dark fruits linger in the long, complex, warm finish.
This limited edition Diplomático Pot Still Rum — Number 3 in the Distillery Collection — bottled at 94 proof, is available throughout the USA with a list price of about $79.
On the occasion of the last day in July, we celebrate British Royal Navy traditions with a remembrance of Black Tot Day — July 31, 1970 — the infamous day that British sailors were served their last daily ration of rum aboard the ships.
The End Of An Era
For more than 300 years, the navy had issued a ration of rum to their sailors daily, but it all ended on Black Tot Day. Nearly a decade later, the recipe was exhumed and the tradition of enjoying Navy style rum was rekindled with the first release of Pusser’s Navy Rum in 1979.
at 84 proof, Pusser’s Navy Rum is the key ingredient in the Painkiller cocktail
Pusser’s Navy Rum
The classic navy-style dark, rich, full-flavored rum, Pusser’s British Navy Rum Blue Label, at 84 proof, is the key ingredient in the famous Painkiller trademarked cocktail.
As with the original British Navy formula, principal marques in this blend are created in legacy wooden pot stills in Guyana, providing a rustic distillation process similar to those used centuries ago, producing a bold, rich flavor profile.
Tasting Notes
This medium bodied, deep orange amber rum offers heady aromas of citrus candy, molasses, vanilla, sassafras and smoked honey. On the palette, Pusser’s Navy Rum offers bold flavors of toasted oak, dark tropical fruit, burnt sugar, creamy caramel and sherry are presented before the warm, long lasting finish offers fading echoes of treacle and old wood.
Pusser’s Rum Expressions
Pusser’s also produces a 15 year old version of its Navy Rum, a spiced expression and a unique gunpowder edition, along with several collectable versions in elaborately decorated ceramic vessels.
A substantial donation from the sale of each bottle of Pusser’s Navy Rum benefits The Royal Navy Sailor’s Fund, a legacy charity more commonly called the “Tot Fund.”
The Rum Jury announced the winners of their 2019 Rum Jury Gold Awards at the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival held in Coral Gables, Florida. Judges were sequestered for two days for blind tasting evaluation with 96 rum products submitted for judging. The results were analyzed and sorted by a seasoned team of statisticians. The top-ranked rums were identified for awards.
The 2019 Rum Jury Gold Awards were announced at Miami Rum Renaissance Festival
The Rum Jurors
Established in 2014, the Rum Jury offers the perspective and opinions of enthusiast rum consumers, especially those with large collections of rum. These super-consumers are important influencers among their own friends and associates and can accurately represent what the public might find most interesting.
Over time, their Rum Jury Gold Awards recommendations have offered rum consumers insightful guidance based on their real-world experience with many rums.
Judging Rum
Rum jurors evaluate rums within a specific set of guidelines established by the International Rum Experts team. Rather than judging rums by favoritism, the products are judged by attempting to discern the intent of the producer and evaluating the results of their efforts.
Rum Jury Gold Awards
The following products were judged superior in the blind tasting competition and earned their 2019 Rum Jury Gold Awards.
Autentico Nativo 15 – Panamá Autentico Nativo Overproof – Panamá Copalli White Rum – Belize Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva – Venezuela Diplomático Planas – Venezuela Just Rum, Simple White – Oregon Just Rum, Maple Rested – Oregon Lemon Hart 1804 – Guyana Lemon Hart Blackpool Spiced – Guyana Maggie’s Farm Queen Share 55 – Pennsylvania Maggie’s Farm Spiced – Pennsylvania Maison La Mauny – Acacia 50° – Martinique Maison La Mauny – Spiced 40° – Martinique Maison La Mauny – XO 40° – Martinique Naked in Jamaica – Florida Paratiana Ouro Cachaça – Brazil Paratiana Prata Cachaça – Brazil Plantation O.F.T.D. Overproof – various Plantation Original Dark – various Puerto Angel Añejo Uruapan – Mexico Puerto Angel Blanco Uruapan – Mexico Ron Caribu Spiced Black Strap – Venezuela Ron Caribu Gold Superior – Venezuela RumJava Cacao’Mon – Florida RumJava Expresso Rum Cream – Florida RumJava Mahtini’Mon – Florida RumJava Signature – Florida Saint James Rhum Blanc Agricole – Martinique Tanduay Double – The Philippines Tanduay Gold – The Philippines Tanduay Silver – The Philippines Three Roll Estate Brazilian Style – Louisiana Three Roll Estate Premium Agricole – Louisiana TierraMonte Essential Eight – various Trois Rivières – Rhum Blanc Agricole 50° – Martinique Trois Rivières – Cuvée de l’Océan 42° – Martinique Trois Rivières – VO – Cuvée du Moulin – Martinique Trois Rivières – VSOP Réserve Spéciale – Martinique
The winners received gold medals and certificates at the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival at a ceremony before a gathering of the public, the spirits trade and rum producers.
Spanning the globe in search of authentic expressions of rum, Alexandre Gabriel’s Plantation Rum brand celebrates the diversity of rum and brings a unique perspective to the marketing of sugar cane spirits.
Plantation’s myriad rum offerings celebrate the incredible range and richness of rum in both culture and taste, from points of origin to fermentation, distillation and barreling techniques.
Having spent countless days in the Caribbean in search of the best rums, Alexandre Gabriel’s dedication to understanding rum’s diversity is without equal. This decades-long obsession has effectively provided the enthusiastic consumer and rum collector with a global rum education on a silver platter.
Plantation Rum will present a seminar entitled “Exploring the Diversity of Rum,” at Miami Rum Festival on Friday, May 17 at 7pm. This seminar, lead by Rocky Yeh, will guide participants on a journey across rum’s broad landscape to explore that magnificent multiplicity of variety within the rum category.
The Miami Rum Festival takes place at the historic Coral Gables Woman’s Club on Friday, May 17 from 4 to 8pm, and on Saturday, May 18th from 4 to 10pm. VIP admission begins at 2pm each day.
The festival features rum producers from near and far exhibiting their products, along with seminars and master classes, cocktail demonstrations and a blind tasting competition by international judges.
The Plantation Rum brand will be highlighting some of their most outstanding expressions with tasting samples that explore the diversity of rum across many regions, including Xaymaca from Jamaica; Fiji Grand Terroir 2009; Jamaica Grand Terroir 2005; Barbados Grand Terroir 2005; Old Fashioned Traditional Dark Overproof; Original Dark Double Aged; 20th Anniversary XO from Barbados, 3 Stars White from Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad; Barbados Five Years; and Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple rum.
The Diversity of Rum seminar takes the participants on a journey across rum’s broad landscape to explore that magnificent variety within the rum category.
Admission to the rum festival is limited to 500 persons per day. Tickets are available online and at the door for $50 general admission and $75 VIP admission. The Diversity of Rum seminar is free to attendees, but space is limited. http://www.rumrenaissance.com
Rums to be sampled at Miami Rum Fest include: Abuelo Centuria Reserva de la Familia; Abuelo XV Napoleon Cognac Cask Finish; Abuelo XV Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish; Abuelo XV Tawny Port Cask Finish; Admiral Rodney Extra Old; Appleton 21, Antelope Island Red; Bacardi Gran Reserva Diez 10; Barbancourt 15; Barceló Imperial; Barnacles 12 YO; Barnacles 8 YO; Bones Aged Butterscotch; Bones Aged Cinnamon; Bones Aged Dark; Bones Aged Spiced; Bones White; Botran 1893 Solera; Brugal 1888; Bumbu XO; Cachaca Paratiana Labareda; Cachaca Paratiana Ouro ; Cachaca Paratiana Prata; Cartavio XO; Cashcane Black Smoke 45%; Cashcane Saloon Cask; Copalli Barrel Rested; Copalli White; Cruzan Single Barrel; Diplomatico Mantuano; Diplomatico Planas; Diplomatico Exclusiva; Diplomatico Vintage; Don Pancho Origenes 18; DonQ Gran Añejo; Doorly’s XO; Dos Maderas 5+5; El Dorado 15 YO; El Dorado 21 YO; Facundo Exquisito, Flor de Caña 25; Foursquare Dominus; Foursquare Premise; Foursquare Zinfindel; Foursquare 2005 (12 year); Gordian Knot; Gubba Gold; Gubba Silver; Hamilton St. Lucia 10; Hamilton Jamaica Gold Pot Still; Hamilton Demerara 86; Hidden Harbor White; Islamorada Dark; Islamorada Reserve Single Barrel; Islamorada Select; Islamorada Spiced; Jan Stephenson Mango; Jan Stephenson Passion Fruit; Jan Stephenson Pineapple; Kavana Gold; Kavana Java; Kavana Silver; Lemon Hart 1804 Original; Lemon Hart Blackpool Spiced; Maggie’s Farm Dark; Maggie’s Farm Pineapple; Maggie’s Farm Queen Share; Maggie’s Farm Spiced; Maison La Mauny Acaia 50; Maison La Mauny Honey 35; Maison La Mauny Spiced 40; Maison La Mauny VSOP 40; Maison La Mauny XO 40; Matusalem Gran Reserva Solera 15; Medellín 12; Mezan Guyana; Monymusk Classic Gold; Monymusk Special Gold; Monymusk Special Reserve; Mount Gay 1703; Naked In Jamaica; Nativo Aged Special Reserve 15 YO; Nativo Overproof; Nativo Aged Special Reserve 20 YO; Neptune; Nine Leaves Almost Spring Cabernet Sauvignon Cask; Nine Leaves Angel’s Half American Oak Cask; Nine Leaves Angel’s Half French Oak Cask; Pampero Aniversario; Penny Blue XO; Plantation 3 Stars; Plantation 5 YO; Plantation Barbados 2005; Plantation Fiji 2009; Plantation Jamaica 2005; Plantation OFTD; Plantation Original Dark; Plantation Stiggins’ Fancy; Plantation Xaymaca; Plantation XO; Prichard’s Cranberry; Prichard’s Crystal; Prichard’s Fine; Prichard’s Key Lime; Prichard’s Peach Mango; Prichard’s Spiced; Puerto Angel Anejo; Puerto Angel Blanco; Real McCoy 10 year old Virgin Oak; Real McCoy 12 Lost Lake Edition; Richland Single Estate Old Georgia aged rum; Ron Centenario 18; RumJava Cacao’Mon; RumJava Caffe Con Horchata; RumJava Cinnamon’Bay; RumJava Expresso Rum Cream; RumJava Mahtini’Mon; RumJava Signature; Saint James Imperial Blanc; Saint James Rhum Paille; Saint James Rhum Vieux; Santa Teresa 1796 Antiguo de Solera; Sebago Lake Coffee; Sebago Lake Original; Tanduay Cappuccino; Tanduay Coconut; Tanduay Double Barrel; Tanduay Gold; Tanduay Silver; Three Roll Estate Amber Rhum Agricole; Three Roll Estate Brazilian Style; Three Roll Estate Dark; Three Roll Estate White; Three Roll Estate White Rhum Agricole; TierraMonte Essential 8; Trois Rivieres Blanco Agricole 50; Trois Rivieres Cuvee de I’Ocean 42; Trois Rivieres Rhum Ambre Agricole 40; Trois Rivieres VO-Cuvee du Moulin,; Trois Rivieres VSOP Reserve Special; Worthy Park Single Estate Reserve; Zacapa XO; Zafra 30; Ziami Overproof; Ziami Platinum; Ziami Ruby Rush.
An iconic Navy Style rum brand has re-issued its limited edition luxury expression – Pussers 15 Year Old – which now contains only rums of Guyana, with a freshly updated bottle design, label and packaging.
Often referred to as the “Crown Jewel” of the product line, this prestige expression of the legacy British Royal Navy formula, sets a high standard for the category and is sure to become a collector’s item among connoisseurs.
Limited Edition
18,000 bottles of Pussers 15 Year Old will be released worldwide, with 6,000 bottles destined for the United States.
“Pusser’s Rum ‘Crown Jewel’ is a true aged rum of 15 years and is crafted in small batches. Due to the rarity of true-aged wooden pot-stilled stocks, only 3,000 six-pack cases could be blended,” said Gary Rogalski, President/CEO Pussers Rum. “This new, improved blend is 100% Guyana origin. We replaced the column stilled portion of Trinidad origin which was no longer available for export. While blended to the exact time-tested and award-winning formula, connoisseurs and aficionados have found the new blend a tad less sweet and even more desirable from a sensory perspective. We also feel it is a superior product and deserves to be commemorated with a new bottle design, label and packaging. As with all our expressions, true-aged Pussers 15 Year Old is 100 percent rum with no added sugars, artificial flavors or colors.”
Pussers 15 Year Old Tasting Notes
Pusser’s 15 Year Old Rum is a luxury expression of authentic navy-style spirits from yesteryear.
Aromas of dark dried fruit, earthy molasses and big oak dominate the nose. On the palate, burnt sugar and dark dried fruits over charred oak lead to a pleasant creamy vanilla note with caramel shortbread cookie and baking spices. The rich, dark tones and old oak linger in the long warm finish.
This rich navy-style rum profile is a critical ingredient in some iconic tropical cocktails like the Pain Killer, the Hurricane, and the Zombie.
Pusser’s 15 Year Old Navy Style Rum is bottled at 40% abv and sells for about $80.
The Pusser’s Legacy
Re-creating the legendary naval blend of rich dark rums for the modern era was a distinct challenge that the founders of Pusser’s Rum managed to achieve. Evoking the spirit of centuries of life on the high seas, numerous battles and engagements, and the rituals of serving rums to sailors on the tall ships, Pusser’s succeeds at expressing a critical aspect of rum’s storied history.
The ship’s purser was the officer principally responsible for handling money and valuable cargo onboard, including the issue of the daily rum ration. The Pusser’s name is a slang derivation referring to this officer in charge of rum.
Pusser’s Rum Limited is a British Virgin Island Company with administrative offices in Charleston, South Carolina. Its products are imported into the United States by Shaw-Ross International Importers.
A new prestige expression from Goslings Rum of Bermuda — Goslings Papa Seal Single Barrel — sets the standard for luxury limited editions from this British island territory in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Papa Seal Single Barrel Bermuda Rum is pot and column distilled from molasses, blended, and then aged in once-used bourbon barrels with a medium char. The humid, salty air of Bermuda provides an ideal environment for aging.
A Very Limited Edition
Goslings Papa Seal Single Barrel Aged Rum from Bermuda
Matured for over 15 years in twelve hand-selected bourbon barrels, only about 2,500 of these exclusive bottles will be released at a price of $199. Rum from each of the barrels, about 200 bottles each, is pre-destined for a specific geographic location.
At 41.5% abv, each bottle features the barrel number, bottle number, and bottling date hand-written on its label, while the name of the store it was acquired from is printed on the neck label. All bottles are housed in an elegant display box, complete with a slide-out tray, open view window, and satin finish foil label.
“Our obsession has always been with crafting the finest rums possible, not the most rums,” explains E. Malcolm Gosling, seventh-generation patriarch and CEO of Goslings International Limited. “With that mantra in mind, we proudly offer Papa Seal Single Barrel Bermuda Rum — the father of all rums — to our celebrated product line. We hope that dedicated Goslings drinkers and newcomers to super premium rum will have the opportunity to enjoy this special spirit.”
Goslings Papa Seal Tasting Notes
Luscious aromas of treacle and butter cookie over wet oak precede a slightly musty earthiness and old leather. On the palate, dark banana, burnt sugar and butter notes turn slightly dry at mid palate leading to creamy vanilla and baking spices over big charred wood. Hints of balsamic, dark prune and leather fade slowly in the very long finish.
Geographic Distribution
Barrel 1 will be distributed in Bermuda. Barrel 2 will go to Total Wine in Florida. Barrel 3 goes to ABC Wine & Spirits in Florida. Barrel 4 is for Crown Wine and Spirits in Florida. Barrel 5 is reserved for NH Liquor & Wine Outlets in New Hampshire. Barrel 6 goes to Blanchards Wines & Spirits in Massachusetts. Barrel 7 is for Total Wine and Spec’s in Texas. Barrel 9 goes to Bourbon Street Wine and Spirits, Phillipsburg, NJ. Barrel 10 will be sent to various retailers in New York State. Barrel 11 goes to PLCB Fine Wine and Good Spirits in Pennsylvania. Barrel 12 is reserved for Wally’s in Los Angeles, CA. The final destination of Barrel 8 is yet to be determined.
The Goslings Legacy
A family business for over 200 years, Goslings Rum is Bermuda’s largest export product and the only company that blends and bottles rum on the island. First exported to the United States in 1980, Goslings offers five distinctive, award-winning rums.
Goslings Black Seal Rum
Goslings Gold Seal Rum
Goslings 151 Proof Black Seal Rum
Goslings Family Reserve Old Rum
Goslings Papa Seal Single Barrel Bermuda Rum
Goslings Stormy Ginger Beer, crafted specifically for use in the trademarked Goslings Dark’n Stormy cocktail, is the number-one selling ginger beer in the United States. Goslings also markets a ready-to-drink Dark ‘n Stormy cocktail in a convenient 8.4 oz can.
Goslings Rums, imported and distributed by Castle Brands, are available in all 50 states as well as North American and European Duty Free, the Caribbean, Canada, Australia, and most European markets.
Bottled at 55% abv, Cashcane Saloon Cask aged rum is a blend of molasses-based spirits from Barbados, Trinidad and Panama, aged for six to eight years.
Each of the components lends a unique character to the blend, and the slightly elevated proof presents a bold expression reminiscent of cask strength American Bourbon. A small sip delivers big flavor.
Cashcane Saloon Cask Tasting Notes
Mild aromas of butter cookie and vanilla lead to toasted oak and some spices. On the palate, pencil shavings and vanilla, toasted oak and some subtle sweetness precede a slightly bitter cocoa that balances well. Ripe butter and cedar linger in the finish.
In a tumbler with good ice, Cashcane Saloon Cask is a fine sipper. In classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned or Manhattan, it plays through well with potent, well balanced rum flavor that compliments the other ingredients.
Cashcane Saloon Cask blended aged rum in the 750ml bottle sells for about $49.
From the world’s largest rum producer, Tanduay Gold Asian Rum is a prime example of a high quality cane spirit well aged and blended with the intent to be accessible.
Since its arrival in the USA in 2013, Tanduay Gold has been recognized in numerous tasting competitions as a product of outstanding merit, including a Gold Award at the 2018 RumXP Tasting Competition at the Rum Renaissance Festival.
Tanduay has been producing rum in The Philippines since 1854, using legacy heirloom cane varieties. This rum is a blend of distillates aged up to seven years in Kentucky Bourbon barrels, designed to be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or as a superior component in well-crafted cocktails.
From the world’s largest rum producer, Tanduay Gold Asian Rum is a prime example of a high quality and accessible aged cane spirit.
Initial aromas of cedar and dried fruits are followed by hints of caramel and vanilla. On the palate, warm dry smoked honey and vanilla leads to buttery almond fruit pastry and floral notes, before a beautiful warm finish lingers with echos of toasted oak and cigar box much longer than expected.
Tanduay succeeds at delivering a fine aged rum for a competitive price. The 750ml bottle of Tanduay Gold Asian Rum, bottled at 80 proof, retails for $19.
Tanduay distinguished their brand by shipping product to a vast network of destinations throughout Asia. The company was acquired by Lucio Tan Group in 1988 paving the way for global growth — expanding into The Americas and Europe — to become the world’s largest producer of rum.
The event brought together a vast selection of rums from the Caribbean and beyond, plus a fine selection of American Rums made by craft producers from across the country.
The distinguished International Rum Expert Panel (RumXP) judges were sequestered for three days of blind tasting sessions carefully organized by the experienced competition staff before being analyzed and compiled by a veteran team of statisticians.
In addition, the Consumer Rum Jury, consisting of serious rum enthusiasts from across America and around the world, convened to sample and evaluate many fine rums for their own awards based on consumer preferences.
Based on the strict standards of the prestigious International Rum Expert Panel, the results of these two international rum blind tasting competitions, consisting of more than 200 rum expressions, are as follows.
2018 RumXP Awards
White Rum
Tanduay Silver – Best In Class
Caneland Parade – Gold Casa Magdalena Ron Blanco – Gold Real McCoy 3 – Gold Plantation 3 Stars – Gold Nine Leaves Clear – Gold
Rhum Agricole Blanc
LaMauny Acacia – Best In Class Trois Rivières 50% Blanc – Gold LaKay Clairin 22/22 – Gold Trois Rivières Cuvée de Ocean – Gold Caneland Rum Agricole – Gold
White Overproof Rum
Monymusk White Overproof – Gold
Spiced Rum
Brinley Spiced – Best In Class Black Magic Spiced – Gold Muddy River Carolina Spiced – Gold Carmelita’s Spiced Orange – Gold
Flavored Rum
Koloa Coffee – Best In Class Alligator Bay Dark – Gold Boqueron Coconut – Gold Ziami Grapefruit – Gold Brinley Lime – Gold Brinley Coconut Cream – Gold Wicked Dolphin Hidden Barrel Maple – Gold
Boutique Aged Rum
Florida Mermaid – Best In Class Queen Charlotte’s Reserve – Gold Islamorada Small Batch Dark Barrel Aged – Gold Koloa Reserve – Gold Prichard’s Fine – Gold Maggie’s Farm Queen Share Double Oak – Gold
Boutique Dark Rum
Naked in Jamaica – Gold Maggie’s Farm 50/50 Dark Rum – Gold
Overproof Aged Rum
Plantation OFTD – Best In Class
Traditional Aged Rum
Monymusk Gold – Best In Class Mezan Guyana 2005 – Gold Mezan Panama 2006 – Gold Grander 12 – Gold Tanduay Gold – Gold Real McCoy 5 – Gold
Premium Aged Rum
Real McCoy 12 – Best In Class Mount Gay 1703 – Gold Plantation Xaymaca – Gold Plantation Fiji 2009 – Gold Plantation Peru – Gold Mount Gay XO – Gold
Rhum Agricole Aged
Trois Rivières VSOP – Best In Class Trois Rivières Cuvée de Moulin – Gold LaMauny VSOP – Gold Trois Rivières Eleve Sous Bois – Gold
2018 Consumer Rum Jury Awards
The Consumer Rum Jury consists of serious rum enthusiasts, rum collectors and rum travelers who enjoy the discovery of rums in all categories.
White Rum
Casa Magdalena Ron Blanco – Gold Cane Run – Gold
Dark Rum
Naked in Jamaica – Gold Maggie’s Farm 50/50 Dark – Gold
Aged Rums
Dos Maderas 5 + 5 – Gold Plantation XO – Gold Mount Gay XO – Gold Dzama Cuvée Noire – Gold Diplomatico #2 – Gold Mount Gay 1703 – Gold
Spiced Rums
Brinley Spiced – Gold Carmelita’s Dark Spiced – Gold Black Magic – Gold
Rum Enthusiasts are preparing to attend the 2018 Rum Renaissance Festival for the weekend of June 9-10 at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center.
Tickets are still available on the web site before June 1st for $50 a day, before reverting to the regular price of $75 at the door. A two-day VIP pass is on sale for $120, versus $200 at the door.
The world’s best rum tasting event features more than 50 vendors sampling more than 200 rums from the Caribbean and beyond, celebrating the continued renaissance of rum.
In addition to all the rum brands on exhibit, the Grand Tasting Bar features a wide assortment of rums selected by the editors of Robs Rum Guide. The VIP Tasting Bar offers samples of rare, limited edition, luxury and collectible rums.
This notable rum tasting event also features a number of master classes and interactive seminars, live entertainment and a tasting competition. Rum Experts from around the world are bringing their knowledge and expertise to share with attendees.
Make Plans Now for Rum Fest
Robert and Robin Burr, hosts of the 2018 Rum Renaissance Festival, invite one and all to enjoy this unique opportunity to taste, discover and learn more about the best rums in the world in an informative, enlightening and entertaining space.
Enjoy your favorite rums and be the first to see some new expressions. Learn more about rum at the enlightening seminars while meeting up with all your rum enthusiast friends at the Rum Renaissance Festival on the weekend of June 9-10.
Attention rum consumers, collectors and fanatics: mark your calendars for Thursday, May 17 in Fort Lauderdale to experience the Great Rum Challenge interactive tasting seminar. It’s a wonderful and enlightening experience for those that know their rums — and for those that want to learn more about the best rums available from these Caribbean countries.
can you discern the aromas and subtle qualities of fine aged rums?
Starting at 7pm at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina Resort, your rum host presents a number of outstanding rums from the Caribbean with expert advice and commentary on the various styles, methods and variations.
Seven exceptional rums will be presented with insight into the production, aging and blending of each expression.
The Nose Knows
Participants in The Great Rum Challenge are invited to discern the aromas and flavor profiles of the various rums from different countries, created in various styles, looking for unique characteristics and differentiators which define their styles.
During the blind tasting session, attendees try to match each rum sample with its corresponding product on display.
Those who are among the most accurate tasters in the event, could be invited to join the Rum Jury as a judge at the upcoming Rum Renaissance Festival.
Members of the Rum Jury are sequestered for two sessions on Friday, June 8, 2018 for expert conducted blind tastings. The results are analyzed and calculated by seasoned statisticians.
The Rum Jury’s tasting session results will be presented as the 2018 Rum Jury Awards at the festival.
Rum Challenge Limited Availability
This unique Great Rum Challenge tasting experience includes the rum seminar, hosted tasting sessions and samples of all the rums.
Space is limited. Reserve early. For a limited time, use the following promotional code to get a special 2-for-1 admission: GRC18A241
The May 4th hotel deadline to reserve rooms at the Hilton Ft. Lauderdale Marina Resort for the 2018 Rum Renaissance Festival — held June 9-10 at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center — is fast approaching.
You can also call 1-800-Hiltons, or 1-800-445-8667.
This modern waterfront resort is only steps away from the big rum festival, offering comfortable rooms, great amenities, and a fabulous location near world famous Ft. Lauderdale Beach, in close proximity to a plethora of fantastic shops, stores, bars and restaurants.
$119 Rate Good Until May 4
The good news is, rooms at the Hilton Ft. Lauderdale Marina Resort are only $119 a night, if reserved before the deadline of May 4th, 2018. Act now to ensure you get the best rate — before the hotel is sold out — for the tenth annual Rum Renaissance Festival.
Located directly on the waterfront at Ft. Lauderdale Marine, the Hilton Resort is the ideal location for guests attending the tenth annual Rum Renaissance Festival next door.
A First Class Resort
Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina is a stunning resort where guest rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows delivering amazing views of downtown, the Intracoastal Waterway or the bustling Fort Lauderdale marine port.
The property features a variety of delightful dining options. Enjoy Antea morning noon and night. Unwind on the pool deck at The G and gaze out at mega-yachts while you dine and drink. Choose the charming Waterway Room with its open views and walls of glass overlooking the sparkling blue Intracoastal Waterway.
Perfect Location For The Rum Festival
A short walk from the resort beneath the majestic 17th Street Bridge delivers you to the entrance of the fabulous Ft. Lauderdale Convention Center, home of the tenth annual Rum Renaissance Festival. A number of alternate hotel options are available in the neighborhood, but none are more convenient than the Hilton.
From the waterfront dock of the Hilton Marina, take the Ft. Lauderdale Water Taxi to dozens of great locations along the inter-coastal waterway without venturing in street traffic, and without renting a car. The hotel also offers a complimentary guest shuttle to Fort Lauderdale Beach.
The address of the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina Resort is 1881 SE 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316.
Discounted Rum Festival Tickets
Discounted tickets to the tenth annual Rum Renaissance Festival are available online before June 1 for $50 a day, which includes complimentary samples of hundreds of fine rums.
The world’s biggest rum tasting event also features a number of master classes and interactive seminars, live entertainment and a tasting competition. The VIP Tasting Bar offers samples of rare, limited edition luxury rums for connoisseurs.
This event attracts rum enthusiasts and professionals from around the world, as well as local consumers and members of the trade.
A unique opportunity to taste and discover many fine rums under one roof.
Robert and Robin Burr, hosts of the Rum Renaissance Festival, invite one and all to enjoy this unique opportunity to taste, discover and learn more about the best rums in the world in an informative, enlightening and entertaining space.
The Real McCoy 10 Year Old Limited Edition Virgin Oak Aged Rum is a robust expression from Barbados offering exquisite complexity.
True to it’s namesake, this iconic brand hearkens the days of prohibition-era rum running when Bill McCoy refused to compromise on quality. Only 3,000 bottles of this micro-batch have been released.
Pedigree
The Real McCoy 10 Year Old Limited Edition Virgin Oak Rum is a robust expression from Barbados created by blending rums aged in both Bourbon and Virgin American Oak casks.
Crafted at Foursquare Distillery, this expression relies on a higher percentage of copper pot still distillate for a richer flavor profile. Two batches are aged separately. The first spends twelve years in used Bourbon barrels. The second, ages ten years in virgin American oak casks.
Carefully blended to balance flavors, the result is bottled at a hardy 92 proof, an example of the authentic style of fine aged rum that made Barbados famous the world over.
Tasting notes
Aromas of ripe banana, toasted butter pecan, big oak and vanilla are accented by a funky fruit. On the palate, brown butter over charred oak brings vanilla, toasted almond and tart dried fruit with a suggestion of burnt sugar. The finish offers long lasting notes of dark buttered toast and plenty of oak.
Quality and Value
The Real McCoy 10 Year Old Limited Edition Virgin Oak Rum appeals to connoisseurs, while remaining accessible to all spirit enthusiasts who appreciate small-batch quality and good value.
The schedule for the 2018 Rum Renaissance Seminars features a broad and robust range of topics of interest to serious rum enthusiasts, as well as casual consumers.
a broad range of seminars and master classes are scheduled for the 2018 Rum Renaissance Festival
The event is known for attracting high quality speakers to share knowledge and insight with attendees into the realms of rum production, expert tasting and evaluation, international marketing, rum cocktails and more.
Rum Renaissance Seminars
Two seminar classrooms at the Grand Tasting Event can accommodate about 80 participants each. Reserved seating is available for $20 at the festival, or $15 in advance.