*Press Release*
FIRST EVER RUM EXPERIENCE WEEK TO TAKE OVER LONDON
Rum lovers invited to explore new ways with rum in a week-long series of tastings, masterclasses, parties, music & fine dining
#rumweek
Monday 12th – Sunday 18th October 2015
London
rumexperienceweek.com
The Rum Experience is teaming up with leading bars, chefs, distillers, brands and rum lovers to curate a week-long series of events that will take over the capital in October. Taking place at various prestigious venues across the city including The Shard, Christies Auction House, The Thames, Mahiki Club, Voltaire and more, each event will be hosted by a different brand or partner and will show attendees new ways to experience rum, including rum pairings with cigars and chocolate, rum infused cooking classes and exclusive menus, a Thames Tiki rum cruise and interactive tastings. The week culminates in the biggest annual rum event on the calendar as RumFest returns to the ILEC, 17th – 18th October. Tickets to select events are available now and more events will be announced soon. Tickets and more information can be found on the website – rumexperienceweek.com.
The first ever Rum Experience Week lands in London from 12th – 18th October 2015. Headed up by Global Rum Ambassador Ian Burrell, the seven-day series aims to raise awareness of the spirit like never before and welcomes both rum newcomers and the discerning drinker to embrace the vibrant culture of rum and explore new ways to enjoy a tipple.
The rum-fuelled action kicks off on the Monday with Lamb’s Navy Rum, where those lucky enough to get a ticket can sample the first limited edition batch of Lamb’s single cask in one of ‘Alfred Lamb’s old stores’ under the Thames at Voltaire followed by the official launch party for Rum Experience Week. On Tuesday Christies Auction House host a very special Rum Masters Dinner. Following the huge success of the Christies rum auction at RumFest last year, the auction house will welcome 40 lucky rum aficionados to a private dinner with rum distillers from around the world surrounded by artwork worth millions. Rum tasting will be taken to new heights on the Wednesday as Appleton Estate Rum welcomes rum fans to an exciting tasting with more news to be announced very soon. Hosted by Ian Burrell and Dave Morrison, Appleton’s senior blender, who will be flying in especially from Jamaica, this is one not to be missed. Thursday welcomes rum lovers to jump aboard the Tiki Boat for Tiki On The Thames. Expect an afternoon of Tiki vibes, Tiki tunes, Tiki cocktails and all things Tiki before voyagers disembark for a special after party at the famous Mahiki Club in Mayfair.
Friday sees the return of the Rum Experience University to offer rum lovers with even more of an education in rum and a recognised diploma, while industry figures gather for the annual rum trade event Boutique RumFest to sample and meet new and emerging rum brands to the UK market. Rounding off the week is the ninth annual RumFest. The huge two-day rum celebration is on course for its best year yet featuring tastings of over 400 rums, cocktail making competitions, seminars, workshops, a Christie’s rum auction, incredible food and the party atmosphere of Carnival Hour.
Gerry’s Wine & Spirits will be the official Rum Shop for the Rum Experience Week featuring a RumFest Takeover from Monday 12th – Wednesday 14th October where customers will be able to sample a selection of the exclusive rums that will be hitting RumFest and Boutique RumFest later that week, as well as speak to representatives from the various brands. With daily themes yet to be revealed, visitors will also be honoured with 10% off all rum purchases during Rum Experience Week to anyone who produces a valid RumFest ticket.
Other highlights during Rum Experience Week include a rum supper club with critically acclaimed Trinidadian chef Shivi Ramoutar, cited by The Guardian as a ‘Caribbean food supremo’, hands on rum cooking masterclasses with Divertimenti Cookery School, rum pairing sessions with chocolates as well as live music. Each day of Rum Experience Week will see rotating Cigar and Rum Pairing events in various venues across the city. Further events to be announced soon.
Ian Burrell, Global Rum Ambassador and Rum Experience Week Founder comments, “Rum is an incredibly versatile spirit, whether mixed with a cocktail, paired with chocolates or marshmallows, cooking with rum, paired with cigars or simply tasted in neat form. This versatility is something we aim to celebrate during the first ever Rum Experience Week allowing both old and new rum drinkers to experience rums in new and surprising ways with unique tastings, pairings and more. We have paired up with some incredible partners and have even more to announce soon, this will be a week of rum never to be forgotten!”
RumFest Founder and Global Rum Ambassador Ian Burrell is the leading name in rum. Dedicating his life to promoting rum and rum culture around the world, over the years Burrell has been recognised with a number of industry awards as well as regularly appearing as a rum expert at events and on television shows like Sunday Brunch, the Alan Titchmarsh Show and more.
RUM EXPERIENCE WEEK PROGRAMME
Monday 13th October
Caribbean Hands on Cookery Class
Tickets available September | Website www.divertimenti.co.uk/cookery-school | Divertimenti Cookery School, South Kensington / Knightsbridge, 227-229 Brompton Road, London, SW3 2EP
RumFest Takeover @ Gerry’s Wine & Spirits
1PM – 6PM | 74 Old Compton St, London W1D 4UW
Cigar & Rum Pairing
Sautters Knightsbridge: 106 Mount St, London, Mayfair W1K 2TW
Alfred Lamb’s Secret Store
VIP sampling session & Rum Experience Week Launch Party | Voltaire | 7PM – 11.30PM
Tuesday 14th October
Cigar & Rum Pairing
1A St James’s: London SW1A 1EF
RumFest Takeover @ Gerry’s Wine & Spirits
1PM – 6PM | 74 Old Compton St, London W1D 4UW
Supper Club with Shivi Ramoutar
Tickets and venue TBA
Christies Rum Masters Dinner
Christie’s Rum Auction House | 8 King St, St. James, London SW1Y 6QT | Tickets released Sept.
Wednesday 14th October
RumFest Takeover @ Gerry’s Wine & Spirits
1PM – 6PM | 74 Old Compton St, London W1D 4UW
Cigar & Rum Pairing
La Casa Del Habano: 76 High St, Teddington TW11 8JD
Rum & Sugar Rum – Rum Cocktail Masterclass
Suitable for beginners | 6.30PM – 8PM | Rum & Sugar, Docklands
Thursday 15th October
Cigar & Rum Pairings
James J Fox: 19 St James’s St, London SW1A 1ES
Tiki on the Thames
Festival Pier departure 2PM – 6PM (stop off at 4PM) | £22 via Eventbrite
Rum & Sugar Live Music Gig
8PM – 11.30PM
Friday 16th October
The Rum Experience University
ILEC Conference Centre | Tickets announced soon
Boutique RumFest
ILEC Conference Centre | Trade only | Registration essential here
Rum & Rococo Chocolate Pairing
Two sittings: 5pm & 7:30pm | 3 Moxon Street, W1U 4EW | Tickets £25 & booked by contacting Sam 07469 853 957 / events@rococochocolates.com
Rum & Sugar Live Music Gig
8PM – 11.30PM
Saturday 17th October
RumFest 2015: the world’s premier rum festival
Tickets £49.95 / £75 (VIP) | rumfest.co.uk/purchase-tickets
Sunday 19th October
RumFest 2015: the world’s premier rum festival
Tickets £49.95 / £75 (VIP) | rumfest.co.uk/purchase-tickets
*End*
We are looking to get down on Thursday afternoon so will be hoping to get ourselves to the Rum University, Boutique RumFest and RumFest itself as a minimum! If you get the chance to attend any of the events then we’d love to hear about your experiences! Looks like its going to be a great week with awareness of Rum at an all time high and in the forefront of everyone’s minds!
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