2016 California RumFest Preview

We are just two weeks away from the Second Annual California Rum Fest, which will take place at SOMArts in San Francisco. Federico Hernandez of The Rum Lab has gathered an amazing slate of rum producers and industry luminaries for this event, so let’s quickly break the weekend down into a schedule so you don’t miss a thing.

But first, click here to buy your tickets!

Friday, August 26

Exhibition Schedule

2:00-4:00 pm

Drinks Industry Trade-Only Session

Pro bartenders, bar and restaurant managers/owners, distributors and off-premise booze folks will gather for a peek at the participating brands prior to the grand tasting.

5:00-9:00 pm

Rum Aficionado Grand Tasting

If you are not already a rum enthusiast, you will be after attending this session! With over sixty different cane spirit marques from over thirty brands, you’re guaranteed to find something that wows you. Just look at this lineup:

Presentation Schedule

As if the rum wasn’t reason enough to attend, there are some really great speakers talking about our favorite subject as well. Mark your calendars for these talks, all of which take place on Friday, August 26:

2:20-3:00 pm

Learning in-depth about Panamanian Rums
Forrest “The Rum Connoisseur” Cokely, industry consultant

3:20-4:00 pm
Effective Social Media in the Spirits Industry
Matt Pietrek, social media guru at CocktailWonk.com

5:20-6:00 pm
“All in the Family”–a spirited examination of the distinct styles of punch that make up this convivial cannon of mixed drinks that came before the cocktail
Jim Meehan, author of The PDT Cocktail Book & co-creator of Banks Rums

6:20-7:00 pm
Using rums in vintage exotic cocktails
Martin Cate, Owner of Tales of the Cocktail 2016 Best Bar–Smugglers Cove and Whitechapel, author, and speaker

7:20-8:00 pm
Understanding Rum
Richard Seale, Owner of Foursquare Distillery

8:20-9:00 pm
A short history and the future of rum
Ed Hamilton, Importer and The Ministry of Rum founder

Saturday, August 27

Exhibition Schedule

1:00-6:00 pm

Save some strength for Saturday, as the rum fun keeps flowing at the Rum Bazaar with Tiki Diablo and other artists and vendors of tiki goodness and ephemera.  There will also be live music and DJs playing as you sip tiki drinks from some of San Francisco’s top bartenders.

Presentation Schedule

Just one presentation on Saturday, but it’s a doozy:

2:20-3:00 pm
The Multi-Origin Rum Category
Jim Meehan, author of The PDT Cocktail Book & co-creator of Banks Rums

Rum Colada Cocktail Competition
Sponsored by Real Syrups and Don Q
Time TBD

The NorCal and SoCal finalists will face off against one another, and you are the judge! Taste the two drinks and vote for people’s choice using the Trophy Cocktail app. The stakes are high, as the winner gets $1,000!

Sunday, August 28

3:00pm ‘til Pau

While the Rum Fest technically ends on Saturday, the fun continues on Sunday at Forbidden Island. Join us in Alameda for the CA Rum Fest Wrap Party sponsored by Tanduay rum. Drink specials and pupus at one of the world’s most famous tiki bars.

So there you have it, folks. The Rum Fest is gonna be a doozy, so come on out an join in the fun!

Cheers,
Josh