The largest world-wide gathering of rum enthusiasts, collectors and professionals in the western hemisphere will take place once again in Miami Beach during the last week of April as the annual Miami Rum Renaissance Festival comes to the Deauville Beach Resort on Collins Avenue.
This week-long series of rum theme events includes a two day grand tasting exhibition of the best rum brands, exclusive VIP parties all week, the excitement of the Island Lifestyle Showcase, numerous celebrity seminars, workshops and cocktail competitions and the annual RumXP judging competition and awards. This Rum Renaissance Festival offers an exciting opportunity to rub shoulders with dignitaries and notable experts from around the world and to discover the very best rums in every category.
The events are organized and hosted by Robert and Robin Burr of Quantum Leap Network, publishers of Robert Burr’s Gifted Rums Guide, featuring his tasting notes on more than 250 cane spirits. They also host the annual Rum Renaissance Caribbean Cruise aboard the Celebrity Summit. Robert’s popular blog, The National Rum Examiner, is one of the top-rated and most popular web sites in the rum universe.
“We’re exciting that our annual Miami Rum Renaissance Festival is growing steadily every year,” said Robert Burr. “We started out with 150 good friends several years ago. In 2011, we’re expecting at least 3,500 attendees. It proves that rum is indeed enjoying a renaissance of popularity as foodies and spirit enthusiasts discover the wide range of rums from the Caribbean and around the globe. We’re thrilled to be introducing several new premium rums to the market with sneak previews and world-wide debuts at Rum Renaissance.”
This week of rum-infused fun begins on Monday, April 25 at the world-famous Mai Kai Polynesian restaurant and bar with a celebration of the infamous Zombie Cocktail, first created by Don The Beachcomber in the 1930s. The Zombie Jamboree will explore the history of this notable concoction and include tastings of historical and contemporary versions of this liquid icon of tiki culture.
Tuesday through Friday evenings, VIPs are invited to experience a series of exclusive rum theme parties sponsored by leading spirit brands from around the world, hosted by leading venues in South Florida.
In attendance will be members of the elite International Rum Expert Panel, also known as the RumXPs, a group of several dozen noted rum judges from around the world. During the week, these experts will be secluded in their tasting room, evaluating spirits in a blind tasting competition. The results of the RumXP Awards will be announced before the end of festival.
Leading spirits mixologists and rum ambassadors from all over the globe will be on hand, including Philip Duff with Plantation Rums from France, Jacob Briars with Leblon Cachaça from Brazil, Jim Meehan with Banks Five Island Caribbean Rum, Jim Wrigley with Santa Teresa Rums of Venezuela and Danny Valdez with Zacapa Rums of Guatemala.
The Grand Tasting Event is the centerpiece of the week-long festivities. On Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1 the public is invited to explore and discover more than 100 fine rums from the Caribbean region and beyond at the Deauville’s majestic Richelieu Ballroom from 2pm to 8pm. With more than 100 cane spirits on display in a wide range of categories and styles from many tropical islands and countries, everyone is sure to find their favorite.
New this year is the Island Lifestyle Showcase held in the adjoining LeJardin theatre, featuring an exciting array of cocktail competitions, entertainment and laid-back lifestyle products. Attendees will discover a treasure trove of cool island fashions, arts and crafts, tiki collectables, home furnishings, travel opportunities and more — in the Island Lifestyle Showcase on Saturday and Sunday at the Deauville Beach Resort.
“Make plans now to experience our Miami Rum Renaissance Festival during the last week of April,” said Burr. “It’s the perfect time of year, the perfect setting and an outstanding opportunity to learn all there is to know about rum.”
Tickets to the Grand Tasting Event are available for $25 per day online by visiting the Rum Renaissance Festival web site. VIP passes for full access to all the exclusive VIP rum parties are also available on the web site for $250 each. The Deauville Beach Resort, 6701 Collins Avenue, is offering discounted room rates to Rum Renaissance attendees, starting at $130 a night.
“At these rates, everyone can afford to join the fun at the Rum Renaissance Festival and celebrate the incredible range of great rums now available in South Florida,” said Burr. “Learn about rum history, the distilleries, the families and the brands that have made rum the noble spirit of the Caribbean for the past three centuries.”
For more information, call 305-443-7973 or visit the web site at www.RumRenaissance.com
links
http://www.rumrenaissance.com
http://www.giftedrums.com
http://www.examiner.com/rum-in-national/robert-burr
http://www.rumxp.com/
Press, for additional information, contact
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