San Francisco Rum Festival & Congress: Sip, Learn and Connect

TheRumLab.com is setting sail for the 9th San Francisco Rum Festival & Congress, also known as the California Rum Fest NoCal Edition. 

This premier rum event promises an immersive and educational experience for rum enthusiasts of all levels, that will be celebrated on Aug. 31st (Rum Congress) and Sept. 1st (Rum Festival) at SOMARTS.

The boutique-style festival showcases a curated selection of premium rum brands, highlighting the rich diversity and exceptional quality of rums available today, in California, one of the largest rum consumer markets in the USA.

Something new that’s being implemented at the San Francisco Rum Festival is the DaiquiriMania experience. It hopes to offer a vibrant celebration of the classic daiquiri cocktail, reimagined with a modern twist and set to the nostalgic beats of retro music. 

The meeting promises to be an unforgettable journey that involves tasting, learning, and networking.

The Rum Congress (Experiences, thoughts, and insights from the experts)

The Rum Congress will take place on Saturday, August 31st, from 2:00 PM to 7:15 PM. The event will feature various seminars to educate attendees about the rum industry.

Seminar: Intro to Mister Fogg – Navy Strength Rum By Planteray Rum

The talk “Intro to Mister Fogg – Navy Strength Rum By Planteray Rum” will be the first to be presented, led by Adrienne Stoner (Rum Community Liaison for Maison Ferrand), Matt Pietrek (Author, Publisher, and Historian at Rum Wonk), and Alexandre Gabriel (CEO & Master Blender of Maison Ferrand).

Seminar: French heritage in Rhum

Then, Thaïs Elie (Brand Manager at Rhum Barbancourt), Francesca Eugene (Senior Manager of Global Marketing at Rhum Barbancourt), and Ewan Henderson (Founder of The Rum Geography) will present “French heritage in Rhum.”

Seminar: Rums of the Mai Tai Through the Ages – Secrets Revealed

“Rums of the Mai Tai Through the Ages – Secrets Revealed” will be the third meeting during the Rum Congress. In the session, Kevin Crossman and Matt Pietrek will address the evolution of the rums used in the Mai Tai through the decades, including deep dives into historic rum expressions.

Seminar: Puerto Rican Rum in Tiki Cocktails & beyond

To conclude, Federico Hernández, founder of TheRumLab, accompanied by rum industry experts from Puerto Rico, will offer a seminar exploring the rich history, unique characteristics, and versatility of Puerto Rican rum, showcasing its essential place in the tiki tradition and its potential in modern mixology.

Rum Festival (Cocktail Competition, Grand Tasting & DaiquiriMANIA)

On September 1st, from 1:30 pm to 7:15 pm, The Grand Tasting (the Rum Festival) will be offering different experiences such as program sessions, competitions, seminars, comparative tasting, and a new dynamic focused on cocktails: the DaiquiriMANIA.  

DaiquiriMania

DaiquiriMANIA is a new program TheRumLab will be launching in 2025. The team will test the idea (Pilot) at the 2024 SF Rum Festival. This concept should bring together rum enthusiasts, cocktail lovers, and music aficionados for delicious drinks and unforgettable tunes.

• Twisted Daiquiris: DaiquiriMANIA showcases a variety of innovative and creative daiquiri variations, each crafted by participating rum brands at their booth. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample these unique concoctions, exploring new flavors while celebrating the classic rum cocktail.

• Retro Music: The event will feature a curated playlist of retro hits, spanning 70s, 80s, and 90s genres. The music will set the perfect backdrop, creating a fun and energetic atmosphere that invites guests to dance and reminisce.

Cocktail Competition

Bounty Rum and REAL Ingredients have hosted a series of cocktail competitions nationwide called “The Spirits of Saint Lucia” Dozens of bartenders participated in each city. The grand finale will be in San Francisco.

Seminars

The seminars on Sunday, September 1st, will be divided into three topics. The first one will be ‘Jamaican Ru-me Crazy,’ which will explore the origins of rum production in Jamaica, delve into the unique rum crafting process of the region, and discuss its impact on the global spirits market.

The panelists of the session will be Martha Miller (CEO at National Rums of Jamaica), Shannon Mustipher (Cocktail consultant, spirits educator, and author), and Alexander Kong’s (Business Development Director at Worthy Park Estate).

The second one, Choosing the next Unique & Exotic Rum will enhance the rum selection voyage with valuable insights and professional advice from Antonio W. Bleve (Proprietor of Samoroli Rum), and Joris Lincke (Commercial Associate and Rum Blender at E&A Scheer). 

Bourbon Consumers’ attraction to Rum, the third talk, will delve into the growing trend of bourbon enthusiasts developing an affinity for rum, one of the main factors in understanding the future of Rum in the USA market. 

This session will be led by Jamie Platto (Co-founder of the San Francisco Whisky Society), Earl Brown (Co-Founder of Wright & Brown Distilling Company), and other panelists. 

Competitions

Competitions will be part of the experience too. In So You Think You Know Rum winners will get a $400 LM&V gift card by participating in a blind rum-tasting competition, presented by Kate Perry of LM&V and Arminder of The Rum Revival.

Tickets

On the other hand, the program offers a variety of tickets that will include:

VIP Rum Experts session

It consists of a 5.5-hour program that offers the opportunity to:

• 2.5 Hour early admission.
• Exclusive tasting cup presented by The NEAT Glass.
• Taste premium rums.
• Access to 2 VIP Seminars.
• Attend Consumer seminars.
• Automatic subscription to TheRumLab Weekly Industry Newsletter.
• Participate in The Rum Cocktail Hours.

The Trade “Industry” session

It consists of a 1.5-hour program offering industry professionals the opportunity to:

• Network with the brand representative.
• Taste premium rums.
• Attend Trade Focus Seminars.
• Mingle with industry colleagues.

This session is created only For trade members (bar, restaurant & retail sale of beer/spirits) and beverage media.

VIP Enthusiastic Session

The session consists of a 4-hour program, offering the opportunity to: 

• 1 Hour early admission
• Exclusive tasting cup presented by The NEAT Glass
• Taste premium rums
• Access to 1 VIP Seminar.
• Attend Consumer seminars.
• Automatic subscription to TheRumLab Weekly Industry Newsletter
• Participate in The Rum Cocktail Hours.

Rum Aficionados GA Tasting session

The session consists of a 3-hour program, offering the opportunity to: 

• 3oz souvenir cup.
• Taste premium rums.
• Attend Consumer seminars.

Also, the guests will enjoy a comparative tasting called Back to the Basics that will offer a sensory understanding of fermentation style (selected and wild yeasts), raw material (cane juice, syrup, and molasses) still type (pot and column), and aging (tropical and continental climates).

Furthermore, the team behind this experience is also the producer of the Puerto Rico Rum Festival “Taste of Rum”, Miami Rum Congress, New York, the LA Rum Fest, the San Francisco Rum Fest, and the Chicago Rum Festival. Events that attract hundreds of people from trade, rum aficionados, tourists & locals.

San Francisco Rum Festival & Congress is a space that provides an opportunity to learn about the Rum industry, develop expertise, meet fellow enthusiasts, and discover new favorite drinks.

To get more information about the event, please click here