The RumLab Will Celebrate the 6th Edition of the New York Rum Festival

After the success of the festivals in Miami and Chicago, The RumLab began the countdown for the 6th edition of the New York Rum Festival. As in the last few years, the festival expects to attract hundreds of people, including rum industry experts, connoisseurs, aficionados, tourists, and locals, who will have the opportunity to attend the Grand Tasting and seminar events.

For this edition, the festival is the opening of a week-long Spirits Events agenda: 

• New York Rum Festival – June 10, 203
• New York Rum Congress – June 12, 2023
• Indie Spirits Fest – June 12, 2023
• Brooklyn Bar Convent – June 13-14, 2023

That being said, the boutique-style Rum Fest will be divided into two days. 

Day #1

The New York Rum Festival officially starts on June 10 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City. This part of the event offers the famous Grand Tasting Experience, plus a stellar seminar rundown. Around 150 rum expressions from more than 38 rum brands worldwide will participate. On this day, there will be four independent sessions offering different activities:

1. The Trade “Industry” Session

The Trade “Industry” Session is a 1.5-hour program to be held between 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. It will allow industry professionals to network with brand representatives, taste premium rums, attend Trade Focus Seminars (RSVP as space is limited), and mingle with industry colleagues. Please note that this is exclusively for trade members (bar, restaurant & retail sale of beer/spirits) and media representatives dedicated to the spirits industry.

2. VIP Rum Expert Session

The VIP Rum Expert Session consists of a 5-hour program from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. It offers the attendees two-hour early admission, an exclusive tasting cup presented by The NEAT Glass, premium rum tasting, access to two VIP and Consumer Seminars (RSVP as space is limited), participation in The Rum Cocktail Hours, and an automatic subscription to The RumLab Weekly Industry Newsletter.

3. VIP Enthusiastic Session

The VIP Enthusiastic Session will last for 4 hours, between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., offering visitors one-hour early admission, an exclusive tasting cup presented by The NEAT Glass, premium rum tasting, access to one VIP Seminar and Consumer seminars (RSVP as space is limited), participation in The Rum Cocktail Hours, and an automatic subscription to The RumLab Weekly Industry Newsletter.

4. Rum Aficionados General Admission Tasting Session

The Rum Aficionados GA Tasting Session consists of a 3-hour program from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. It offers visitors different benefits, such as premium rum tasting, a 3oz souvenir cup, and access to consumer seminars (RSVP as space is limited).

You can buy your tickets for the festival here!

Know More About the VIP Rum Seminars!

Among the seminars confirmed to date are the following:

• The Spirit of the Caribbean, Jamaica leading the charge for a better future. Speakers: Robert Gordon, Quality Assurance Manager & Blender at National Rums of Jamaica, and Kimberly Williams, Master Blender Apprentice.
• Why rum is capturing the attention of whiskey enthusiasts. Here, attendees will mainly learn about which rums are drawing the attention of whisky lovers and why, as well as how a rum geek might help bring their whiskey-drinking friends into the rum fold. Speaker: Liz Rhoades, technical distiller at WhistlePig, Troy Arquiza, Bacardi Global Master Rum Blender and A-K Hada, the North American Brand Ambassador for Bacardí.
• The misconception of Spanish-styled rum. During this seminar, attendees will learn and understand that rums can be different in different Spanish-speaking countries. Speaker: Otto Flores, Barceló Brand Ambassador.
• 100% Estate-Grown Rum. During these seminars, attendees will learn about and taste 100% Estate Esquite Rum. Speakers: Miriam Pacheco, General Manager at Uruapan Charanda, and Zan Kong, Commercial Manager, Spirits for Worthy Park Estate.

Day #2

On June 12, the New York Rum Congress will be held. The event is bringing back its Congress Component. It will take place at the iconic Liquor Store & Education venue, the Astor Learning Center. This event is super VIP, so a maximum of 30 people will be able to attend it. The RumLab partnered with SPIRIBAM to host the New York Rum Congress.

The congress is split into two different sessions:

1. TheRumLab Workshops
2. SPIRIBAM – Industry Training. (This session is already sold out.)

Rum Congress Agenda

• Dunderstruck, The Hampden Estate 8 Marks Collection. Johann Jobello will guide attendees through an in-depth tasting of the marks of Hampden Estate ranging from OWH to DOK. This is the first-ever preview of the new “8 Marks Collection,” which will arrive in the US Market in early summer. The seminar will also offer a guided tasting of each mark (unaged at 60% ABV) with chemical and organoleptic analysis grounded in historical production methods.
• Help choose the next Holmes Cay release! The seminar includes a unique tasting experience with Holmes Cay founding couple, Eric Kaye and Maura Gedid. Attendees will have the rare opportunity to taste a series of single-cask rum expressions under consideration, and their tasting notes could guide the next single-cask release.
• La Maison Ferrand Experience. The speakers for this seminar will be Alexandre Gabriel, world-famous owner & Master Blender of Maison Ferrand in Cognac & West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados, and Adrienne Stoner, the On-Premise Manager of Maison Ferrand for the Chicagoland area.

The New York Rum Festival is an event focused on elevating the category of rum through education. Premiumization is our mantra!

Get more information by visiting www.newyorkrumfest.com. Also, keep yourself updated through our social media accounts, @therumlab and @newyorkrumfest. See you in New York!