The New York Rum Festival returned to NYC for its 7th year on June 8th at 100 Sutton Studios (100 Sutton St.) in Greenpoint. TheRumLab.com hosted The New York Rum Festival featuring over 180 Rum Expressions from all over the world including Fiji, Reunion Island, Belize, Spain, Barbados, Martinique, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and more. Over 500 attendees experienced in-depth panels with industry professionals, more than 5,000 tastings were poured, with the festival hosting guests from the United Kingdom Amsterdam, Puerto Rico, Barbados, Jamaica and other Caribbean Islands. A highlight of the event was the portfolio of Rums of Puerto Rico plus the new expressions by Rhum Barbancourt from Haiti and Planteray Rum. The event provided attendees with an opportunity to explore and discover the world of rum, including rare and exotic varieties, as well as to learn about the latest trends and developments in the industry.
Courtesy of Henry Delgado
The one-of-a-kind tasting event highlighted rum from around the world, starting with the Advance Rum Conference session "Multiple Dimensions of Rum Blending," featuring tastings of various blends, including the Holmes Cay Heritage Blend and the upcoming Full Circle Blend, led by experts John Hsu, Niels Benschop, and Eric Kaye. The Advance Rum Conference continued with a Master Class on Botran Rum, hosted by Iván Valdéz, focusing on the unique no-sugar-added production process of Ron Botran. "Jamaican Rum-Me Crazy," presented by Martha Miller and Alexander Kong, explored the history and cultural significance of Jamaican rum. The VIP Rum Experts Session offered attendees exclusive seminars, tastings, and access to The Rum Cocktail Hours. The Trade "Industry" Session provided industry professionals with networking opportunities, premium rum tastings, and Trade Focus Seminars. Lastly, the seminar "Transcontinental Aging," presented by Adrienne Stoner and Daniella Sanchez, delved into the principles and procedures of aging rum across different continents.
The Trade “Industry” Session was tailored for professionals in the bar, restaurant, retail beer/spirits, and beverage media sectors, offering networking opportunities with brand representatives, premium rum tastings, and Trade Focus Seminars. The VIP Rum Experts Session included early admission, an exclusive tasting cup from The NEAT Glass, access to two VIP Seminars (RSVP required), participation in Consumer seminars, a subscription to TheRumLab Weekly Industry Newsletter, and The Rum Cocktail Hours. The VIP Enthusiastic Session provided early admission, premium rum tastings, access to one VIP Seminar, entry to Consumer seminars, and the weekly industry newsletter, with added excitement from The Rum Cocktail Hours. The Rum Aficionados General Admission Tasting Session featured a souvenir tasting cup, premium rum samples, and access to Consumer seminars offering a comprehensive experience for all attendees.
“This was an incredible opportunity for rum enthusiasts and industry professionals to come together to learn, network, and discover the latest trends in the world of rum,” said the event producer Federico Hernandez. The New York Rum Festival kicked off an exciting week of spirit-focused events in NYC, including The Rum Conference at Studio 1418 (307 W 38th St.) on Monday, June 10th.
For more information, please visit https://newyorkrumfest.com/ or https://therumlab.com or check out their Instagram handles @newyorkrumfest and @therumlab/