TheRumLab Celebrates Success at California Rum Fest Tour

TheRumLab is proud to announce the tremendous success of California Rum Fest Tour, represented by two key events: the LA Rum Fest—Pop Up and the SF Rum Congress & Festival. These events showcased the finest rum worldwide, delivering unforgettable experiences to industry professionals, enthusiasts, and newcomers alike. 

With an impressive attendance of over 900 participants (VIPs, new consumers, and trade professionals), along with educational seminars and exciting new features, these festivals celebrated the diversity, craftsmanship, and future of rum.

LA Rum Fest — Pop Up: A Sunset Rum Experience

Held on August 29th, 2024, at the Haas Building DTLA Rooftop, the 3rd Los Angeles Rum Fest—Pop Up invited rum lovers to enjoy an evening filled with premium rum and sunset views. The event featured two insightful seminars, a vibrant DJ-powered music area by LA’s Caña Rum Bar, and an impressive showcase of the finest rums, all while enjoying the iconic Golden Coast sunset.

This pop-up event offered an intimate and educational platform for rum enthusiasts to deepen their knowledge of the spirit. 

Festival founder Federico Hernández emphasized, “Rum festivals have evolved from just a party experience to an educational platform where trade professionals, rum aficionados, and newcomers can enrich their knowledge.”

Seminars included:

• French Heritage in Rhum by industry experts Ewan Henderson and Daniel Tindal.
• Puerto Rican Rum in Tiki Cocktails & Beyond, led by Federico J. Hernández and other rum experts, explored Puerto Rican rum’s history and versatility.

The LA Rum Fest successfully combined learning, networking, and fun, offering participants a memorable rum experience with more than 2000 poured rum samples from major international brands. 

LA Rum Fest Highlights:

• 50 trade professionals participated.
• 7 media representatives covered the event.
• 75 VIP attendees (Rum Experts & Enthusiasts).
• 150 new customers (General Admission or Intro to Rum).
• 75+ rum expressions featured from top global brands.
• 18+ major international rum brands took part.
• 2,000+ rum samples were poured for attendees.

SF Rum Congress & Festival: A Premier Rum Showcase

Next, the 9th San Francisco Rum Congress and Festival took place on August 31st and September 1st, 2024, at SOMARTS in San Francisco. This two-day event delivered an immersive rum journey through tasting, learning, and networking opportunities.

Furthermore, the festival started with The Rum Congress, featuring multiple seminars by industry leaders and experts. Attendees delved deep into the history, culture, and future of rum through engaging sessions like:

• Intro to Mister Fogg – Navy Strength Rum by Planteray Rum, presented by Adrienne Stoner, Matt Pietrek, and Alexandre Gabriel.

• Rums of the Mai Tai Through the Ages – Secrets Revealed, led by Kevin Crossman and Matt Pietrek, provided a historical perspective on the evolution of rums in Mai Tai cocktails.

• Puerto Rican Rum in Tiki Cocktails & Beyond, which explored the versatile role of Puerto Rican rum in tiki culture.

The Grand Tasting

The Grand Tasting on September 1st introduced new features, including the exciting DaiquiriMania, which showcased innovative twists on the classic daiquiri cocktail paired with retro music. 

Moreover, competitions also added a thrilling edge to the event. The Spirits of Saint Lucia Cocktail Competition, hosted by Bounty Rum and REAL Ingredients, brought together bartenders from around the country to showcase their best cocktails. 

The So You Think You Know Rum blind-tasting competition saw participants vie for a $400 LM&V gift card, adding a competitive spirit to the event.

Additionally, both experiences in San Francisco showcased more than 30 leading worldwide rum brands that offered and served over 5,000 samples to attendees from 150 rum expressions. 

San Francisco Rum Congress & Festival Highlights:

• 40+ Rum Congress attendees.
• 157 trade professionals attended.
• 140 VIP attendees (Rum Experts & Enthusiasts).
• 290 new customers (General Admission or Intro to Rum).
• 150+ rum expressions featured from premium global brands.
• 30+ leading rum brands showcased.
• 5,000+ samples of rum poured for attendees.

Looking Ahead

The LA Rum Fest and SF Rum Congress & Festival demonstrated the growing popularity and appreciation for rum, underscoring its expanding place in the global spirits market. 

Indeed, TheRumLab is already preparing for future events like the Miami Rum Congress & Fest 2025, with plans to build on the success of 2024 and introduce exciting new experiences for rum lovers in the years to come.

About TheRumLab

The Rum Lab is a creative and production agency focused on the rum industry. The company produces Puerto Rico’s national rum festival, Taste of Rum Puerto Rico—in addition to the California Rum Festival, Chicago Rum Festival, New York Rum Festival, and the Miami Rum Congress. 

Events produced by The Rum Lab attract hundreds of guests, including beverage trade professionals, rum fans, tourists, and local consumers. 

For more information about TheRumLab’s upcoming events, visit TheRumLab.com and subscribe to the newsletter!