Look inside TheRumLab’s 2025 Agenda! Festivals, Congress, and More
As evidenced by its capacity to accommodate all of the planned rum events, TheRumLab appears to have had a successful year in 2024. In addition to the exceptional attendance at the events, it is truly remarkable to observe brands ultimately adopting the strategy of utilizing the event as an excuse to visit the respective markets in order to expand their businesses.
The path
For the past 15 years, The Rum Lab has been organizing rum festivals, conferences, and congresses in the United States, Puerto Rico, and most recently, Spain. The platform’s objective has been to advance and elevate the premium rum category. The majority of the attendants are aware that they will have the opportunity to engage in direct dialogue with the owners, global brand ambassadors, or event distillers of the rum brands. The educational component of the event has been essential for the brands, and the attendees’ Rum Brand appreciates the opportunity to emphasize the benefits of their product in a casual setting for a few hours rather than competing with music and a party scene during an entire event.
What comes next?
TheRumLab is preparing for 2025 by introducing DaiquiriMANIA, a unique concept that will take place in the last two hours of every rum festival. This part of the Grand Tasting event will feature exceptional vintage music and twisted Daiquiri cocktails. The company is also preparing to incorporate a Spirits Row, a compact area that will showcase a variety of spirits, including whiskey, cognac, and gin.
“I appreciate the setup of Whiskey Live Paris, and I aim to gradually introduce a small section of alternative spirits at our Rum Festivals.” Federico Jose Hernandez, the President of TheRumLab, has made this statement.
A wide range of enthusiasts, including brand ambassadors, founders, blenders, distillers, bartenders, cocktail schools, cigar enthusiasts, restaurant and bar representatives, and drink-focused media, will attend the US Rum Festivals in Miami, Puerto Rico, Texas, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
Federico Hernández anticipates that the majority of events will serve over 180 rum expressions. Among other countries, rums were produced in 2024 from Fiji, Spain, Cambodia, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Venezuela, Guyana, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Mexico, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Haiti. This assortment of rums will enable the consumer to identify, visualize, taste, and scent the distinctions between each brand, including aromas, flavors, and colors.
We provide the following information if you are a rum enthusiast and wish to attend festivals in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Spain.
EVENTS IN THE UNITED STATES (including Puerto Rico)
Miami Rum Congress
According to The Rum Lab, Miami is the greatest rum consumer market in the United States, with an annual sales volume exceeding 2.4 million cases of rum. The Miami Beach Convention Center (South Beach) will host the sixth iteration of the Miami Rum Congress 2025.
This three-day event has emerged as the most significant congress in the United States, uniting rum producers and enthusiasts from across the Caribbean, South, Central, and North America. There are several novel developments occurring at the 2025 Miami Rum Congress, including:
- Spirits Row is a section that showcases a variety of spirits in their various forms.
- DaiquiriMANIA is a novel program that TheRumLab will introduce in 2025 during the Intro to Rum Session, which will occur during the Grand Tasting Session on February 1st from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Specifics:
- Date: January 31st–February 2nd, 2025
- Venue: The Gates Hotels by DoubleTree (2360 Collins Ave.) and the Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Ctr. Dr., Miami, FL.
- Website: miamirumcongress.com
Agenda:
- Rum Congress (Seminars): January 31st Rum Festival
- Grand Tasting: February 1st
- Congreso del Ron (Spanish Congress): February 1st
- DaiquiriMANIA (Twisted Daiquiris & Retro Music): February 1st
- Industry Sunday Soiree (Bartender Pool Party): February 2nd
Texas Rum Fest
The 2nd Texas Rum Fest 2025 will take place in Dallas’ trendy Deep Ellum, home to one of the country’s largest rum consumers, the southern state of Texas. The event will feature sessions for general admission, VIP, and trade.
Specifics:
- Date: March 1, 2025
- Address: 2616 Commerce Event Center, 2616 Commerce St., Dallas, TX
- Website: texasrumfest.com
Taste of Rum, “Puerto Rico’s International Rum Festival and Conference”
The largest rum festival in the Caribbean will be held on the Isla del Encanto. The purpose of this event is to promote both the international and local rum industry, providing attendees with the chance to sample over a dozen distinct brands.
The most renowned restaurants on the island will captivate the palates of diners with their delectable gastronomic menus, while local artists will offer their crafts. Additionally, there will be live music performances.
In addition to rum trials, the conference segment will feature master classes (seminars) conducted by subject-matter experts.
Specifics:
- Date: March 29, 2025
- Location: Puerto Rico Convention Center, San Juan, PR
- Website: tasteofrums.com
Chicago Rum Fest
The Historical Logan Square Auditorium will host the 9th iteration of the Chicago Rum Fest 2025, also known as the Midwest Rum Fest.
The festival offers the opportunity to partake in four distinct sessions: the Trade “Industry” session, the VIP Rum Experts session, the VIP Enthusiastic session, and the Rum Aficionados General Admission Tasting Session.
Specifics:
- Date: April 26, 2025
- Location: Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N. Kedzie Blvd., Chicago, IL
- Website: chicagorumfest.com
New York Rum Fest and Conference
The 8th incarnation of the New York Rum Fest appears to be highly promising. We expect significant figures in the rum industry to attend the festival at the 100 Sutton Studio in Brooklyn immediately before the Bar Convent.
Thanks to the notable lecturers who attend, the Brooklyn event venue boasts an exceptional seminar room ideal for all educational activities.
This festival will transform “the city that never sleeps” into the Empire of Rum for a day. In addition to captivating the palate, it will also captivate the attendees with its tastings, lectures, contests, and awards.
Specifics:
- Date: June 7, 2025
- Location: 100 Sutton Studio, 100 Sutton St., Brooklyn, NY
- Website: newyorkrumfest.com
Los Angeles Rum Fest (Pop-Up Rooftop Version)
The California Rum Festival Tour will commence with the fourth installment of the Los Angeles Pop-Up Rum Fest. The festival will provide attendees with an opportunity to sample a variety of rum flavors, such as aged, dark, spiced, white, and gold rum.
Additionally, they will be privy to the intricacies of the renowned rum-based concoctions.
Specifics:
- Date: September 11, 2025
- Location: The Haas Trademark Collection Roof-Top by Wyndham, 219 W 7th St., Los Angeles, CA
- Website: larumfest.com
San Francisco Rum Congress and Rum Fest
Indeed, you have comprehended the text accurately. Congress Day will mark the start of the 10th edition of the San Francisco Rum Fest. The programs should provide professionals in the sector with the opportunity to establish contacts with the brand representative,
sample top-quality rums, attend trade focus seminars, have premium rum tastings, and have access to VIP seminars, among other things, as the final stop of the California Rum Fest tour.
Specifics:
- Date: September 13th and 14th, 2025
- Address: Trader Vic’s is 9 Anchor Dr., Emeryville, CA 94608.
- Website: sanfranciscorumfest.com
EUROPEAN EVENTS
Spain Rum and Gin Expo
Following Federico J. Hernandez’s recent relocation to Madrid, Spain, new initiatives are imminent. He recently opened Ti’ Punch Rum Bar near the Bernabeu Stadium and is organizing the 2nd Spain Rum and Gin Expo.com.
The event will span two days and offer a unique experience on each day.
Specifics:
- Date: May 8th and May 9th, 2025
- DaiquiriMANIA Cocktail Night | May 8th
- Rum & Gin Expo – Grand Tasting | May 9th
- Address: Plaza Caleido, Paseo de la Castellana, 259 E. 28046, Madrid.
- Website: rumandginexpo.com
You can stay updated about all of TheRumLab’s events by subscribing to their newsletter. Additionally, you will have the chance to participate in our launches, interviews, and infographics that are exclusively for rum enthusiasts.
I look forward to seeing you soon! Please follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn at @therumlab.
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