RumFest: 19th & 20th October 2019, Earl’s Court ILEC Conference Centre
This time last year, RumFest’s organisers announced the launch of London Rum Week, of which RumFest would be a part. It would appear that Rum Week is not returning for 2019, however RumFest 2019 has been confirmed and tickets are now on sale.
Over 400 rum expressions are slated to be on show, along with a rum auction and cocktails by bartenders from noted rum venues Trailer Happiness and Laki Kane. Georgi Radev, Laki Kane’s creative director, will also be among the roster of experts conducting rum category and cocktail masterclasses, alongside Tiki cocktail author Jeff ‘Beachbum’ Berry, who will be speaking about the 75th Anniversary of the Mai Tai.
A subsection within the main show, Craft RumFest will feature rums which meet strict production criteria, such as being 100% pot-distilled, or having no additional flavours added. Caribbean-inspired food will be available throughout the show courtesy of the Heart & Soul food buffet, and entertainment comes in the form of embarrassing dancing during the festival’s ‘Carnival Hour’.
One day tickets are… not cheap (Saturday – £47.25, Sunday – £38.25). These basic one-day tickets allow for sampling of some of the exhibited brands, however ‘golden tot’ tokens, which can be purchased separately, are required in order to taste the more exotic expressions on show. In short, if you’re going, you’ll need your wallet.