Is California the next capital of rum?

California has long been the land of golden dreams—sand, surf, sun…and now rum!

California’s shores are home to a deep history of rum love. World renowned bars like Smuggler’s Cove (San Francisco), Longitude (Oakland), Forbidden Island (Alameda), Tonga Hut (Palm Springs and Hollywood), Caña Rum Bar (Los Angeles), and Don the Beachcomber (Huntington Beach), as well as Tiki festivals like Tiki Oasis and Tiki Caliente, year after year draw rum lovers and cocktail enthusiasts from all around the world.

The newest California rum event is the California Rum Festival, in San Francisco. The event, which benefits the OHP Foundation, a group focused on youth mentoring in the Bay Area, will take place at the SOMArts Cultural Center on August 26 and 27, 2016. This festival is a “Must Attend” event for those in the spirits industry as well as rum enthusiasts.

The list of speakers Includes many luminaries of the rum community:

· Ed Hamilton (Importer and founder of The Ministry of Rum)
· Martin Cate (Owner of Smugglers Cove and Whitechapel, author, and speaker)
· Matt Pietrek (Social media guru at CocktailWonk.com)
· Richard Seale (Owner of FourSquare Distillery)
· Forrest Cokely (Industry consultant, aka The Rum Connoisseur).

The California Rum Fest divides events into two days: Friday starts with a trade session (Food and Beverage Professionals Seminar & Grand Tasting) from 2 – 4pm, followed by the Rum Aficionado Session (General Public Grand Tasting Event) from 5 – 9pm. Saturday features a rum bazaar offering attendees the opportunity to buy arts and crafts from different Tiki Vendors while enjoying great music and rum cocktails. Rum will be available for sale.

To learn which brands have already signed up &/or to buy tickets for California Rum Festival, please visit californiarumfestival.com