The Rum Renaissance Festival In Miami Continues In Its 12th Year, Honoring The Literal Spirit Of The Caribbean

Those of you who know me well know I’m partial to fine rum as a beverage. Maybe it’s the Caribbean blood in me. I was born & raised in Ohio  and my mother’s side is from rural Appalachia: Moonshine territory! But my grandfather emigrated to the US from the Bahamas just under 100 years ago, and my daughter Natalie was born in The Dominican Republic…in San Pedro de Macorís no less, on the edge of the country’s vast eastern sugar cane fields: the prime ingredient for treasures such as Barceló and Brugal. Those of you who have known me for decades remember when I once owned a colmadón or bar in the nation’s capital, Santo Domingo. Even here in Colombia there is a lot of mediocre industrial rum manufactured by government owned distilleries, but there are delicious small-batch exceptions like La Hechicera and Ron Parce. 

In the above photo I’m with the great Rick Aspen, actor and pirate on-call.

The Rum Renaissance Festival was only in its 3rd year when I attended for the first time as a new resident in Miami back in 2011. Now, 9 years later, the 12th annual Miami Rum Renaissance Festival continues the tradition with a two day grand tasting event in Coral Gables on May 15 and 16, 2020 and I hope you will join me.

Once again, hundreds of rum connoisseurs, collectors, judges and enthusiastic rum lovers will mingle with producers, master distillers, importers, distributors, retailers and members of the spirits trade at the Coral Gables Woman’s Club from 4 to 8pm.

Attendees will appreciate the seminars and master classes offered by leading experts in the rum industry, enjoy the vast number of rums on exhibit by award-winning producers, and frequent the specialty rum tasting bar — with more than a hundred limited edition, vintage and prestigious luxury edition expressions for discriminating palates.

“It’s such a pleasure to host so many great rum producers and to welcome back more than a thousand rum fans in South Florida,” said festival producer Robert Burr. “The category of rum continues to expand with an ever-growing variety of offerings, from every-day favorites and classics, to the most amazing examples offered by the legendary masters or rum. We are truly experiencing an era that can only be described as the Renaissance Of Rum.”

As always, a great selection of top-shelf rums will be on sale at the event from Jensen’s Liquors, a leading source of great spirits in South Florida.

Savvy consumers come to the Rum Renaissance Festival to discover a truly remarkable range of fine rums from the Caribbean region, as well as Central and South America, Europe, Asia — and from the furthest reaches of the world. The best American rums, as well, are on display, with a chance to speak directly with the master distillers and blenders.

Miami Rum Fest has always been a place where rum reputations are made, new products are released and the love of old favorites is rekindled.

Miami Rum Fest tickets are available for $50 online. VIP tickets which include early entry, a tasting glass and complimentary catered meals, are $75. Special discount tickets are available for qualified members of the trade.

Special discount rates for attendees are available at area hotels, as well as free transportation to and from the tasting events.

The Miami Rum Renaissance Festival takes place at the Coral Gables Woman’s Club at 1001 East Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables, FL 33134 on Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16, 2020.

For more information call 707-278-6736 or visit the web site: www.rumrenaissance.com/