The Miami Rum Renaissance Festival, the largest gathering of rum producers, professionals and enthusiasts in the world, returned to the Doubletree Hotel Miami Airport Convention Center from April 25 to 27, 2014 featuring the most exhibitors and rum brands in the six year history of the festival.
The 2014 Miami Rum Renaissance Festival greatly expanded to feature more than 50,000 square-feet of exhibits, including 92 exhibit booths and 166 expressions of rum from 69 of the world’s leading and emerging rum brands.
Attendance
The three-day festival was attended by 10,560 rum enthusiasts and spirits industry professionals, including 3,316 people attending the Trade Preview on Friday, April 25, and 7, 244 people attending the Grand Tasting on Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27.
Of attendees, nearly 13 percent considered themselves experts, more than 24 percent had an above average knowledge of rum, and more than 37 percent stated they had an average understanding of rum. In addition, approximately 26 percent of attendees considered themselves novice or having slight knowledge of rum.
Seminars
This year’s festival featured nine rum seminars over the three-day festival led by some of the world’s most knowledgeable and respected personalities in cane spirits. Presenters including Phil Greene, David Cid, Bryan Davis, Shaun Caleb, Tyler Kok, Bernhard Schåfer, Ian Burrell, Paul McFadyen, Paul Senft. Topics ranged from Tiki Cocktails to the History of Falernum to How to Taste Rum Like a Judge, with proceeds benefiting The Museum Of The American Cocktail in New Orleans, La.
World Tiki Cocktail Championships
Mixologists from the United States and United Kingdom competed for Tiki cocktail immortality and bragging rights in the World Tiki Cocktail Championships sponsored by Bacardi Rum. The top Tiki cocktail bartenders from each country traveled to Miami to compete before a judging panel of local and international Tiki experts and were judged based on showmanship, presentation, execution, taste and creativity. Following a competitive and entertaining competition, the Bacardi United States team was victorious.
Rum XP Tasting Competition
The RumXP International Tasting Competition brought leading rum expert judges from around the world to Miami for this prestigious gathering. Sequestered for three days of blind tasting sessions, the judging panel included 12 RumXP International Rum Expert Panel and 12 industry guest judges. The competition included 17 categories of rum with 133 entries resulting in 17 Best in Class awards and 30 gold awards. Full competition results can be found at www.rumrenaissance.com/Competition2014.
Miami Rum Cocktail Week
The 2014 Miami Rum Renaissance kicked off with Miami Rum Cocktail week held Mon., April 21 through Sun., April 27. Seven cocktail parties took place throughout the week including a rum cocktail pop-up bar by Los Angeles’ Caña Rum Bar at Broken Shaker in Miami Beach; DonQ cocktails at the Mai Kai in Fort Lauderdale; Classic Bacardi Cocktails at the Penthouse of the Bacardi U.S.A. headquarters in Coral Gables; Petry and Bayou Rum from Louisiana at Gramps Bar in Wynwood; Papa’s Pilar cocktails at The Corner in downtown Miami; a Miami Beach cocktail walking tour with visits to Regent Cocktail Club, Drogerie and Lure Fishbar; and a festival barbeque closing party hosted by DonQ rum.
“We’re excited about the continued growth of the size and scope of the Festival,” said show manager Robin Burr. “The increase in rum producers, brands and expressions at the festival is testament to the resurgence of rum and enthusiasm consumers have for this extraordinary cane spirit.”
Miami is the number one rum market in the world. Among many world-class festivals in South Florida, The Miami Rum Renaissance Festival was voted the number one festival in Miami by Miami New Times.
The 2015 Miami Rum Renaissance Festival will be held April 17 to 19, 2015.
Additional information about Miami Rum Renaissance can be found www.rumrenaissance.com.
