Plan Your Own Rum Tasting Event

[RobertBurr]

I encourage all my fellow rum enthusiasts to organize a rum tasting event with a few of their friends.

We often have 8 or a dozen folks together for a barbeque event, some steaks and side dishes, or fresh lobster and stone crabs, along with a tasting of rums and some tasty cocktails. Last time we chose 11 rums to sample. The host bought 4 great rums and other folks brought a bottle of their favorite. Everyone had a good time and left with a greater appreciation of these rums.

If you can organize two dozen friends, you can probably get the local rum distributor to provide a sample bottle of several brands, or work with a local well-stocked bar or liquor retailer who is interested in increasing rum sales.

I can't speak for Ed, but hose who evangelize fine rums and start a following might be eligible earn the title of deacon in the ministry of rum.

[Dood]

My wife and I are planning a rum tasting event for late February.

I hadn't thought about contacting local distributors...

[Scottes]

I've done a couple so far, and have a couple more planned for next month.

In the first one I did a tasting of rums, from "bad" to worst. The bad was the best molasses-based whites that I know of (excepting Orinoco which wasn't available at the time), and then we went to simple golds, and then dove into 7 or 8 rums that were good to fantastic. The whole time I went through a history of sugar and rum and then through techniques of distillation and some on aging and so on.

About half the people, the hard-core rum aficionados, enjoyed the history and other blabbing, but the other half (mostly just rum-lovers) just wanted the rum.

In the second I brought out about 10 rums and just spoke a bit about each one. This group, almost all of whom knew little about rum, enjoyed that quite a bit.


Personally I'd have a hard time enjoying myself if I just brought out the 10 best rums on the planet and started tasting. I like to bring people into rum, teach them a bit, and build up their palates over a couple hours. Maybe that's just me....

[RobertBurr]

Scottes and Dood,

It's encouraged to hear of your tasting events, past and future. We're entering the golden age of rum and lots of people are on a mission of discovery and enlightenment, including us.

I've had good luck dealing with the distributors, importers and distillers, as well as local bars and retailers to participate in my tastings. Compared to spending money on other marketing and sales efforts, the cheapest thing a rum company can do is provide some free sample product if their rums are going to be featured, and some good stories told about them.

[Edward Hamilton]

After my first book was published I was pretty busy sailing around trying to sell enough books to pay the publisher. I did rum tastings at resorts and it didn't take long for other sailors to start asking for me to do tastings on their boats. Generally, I'd be running around the island all day and wouldn't get back until just before sunset. In the best scenario, someone with a catamaran, two hulls and a bigger cockpit than sloops, would offer to host the casual tasting.

I'd simply ask every one to bring a bottle of anything and something to share to eat. I'd give a short description of every rum before us and then the fun would begin. I met several friends I still see from time to time. In my mind the keys are a variety of rums and plenty to eat.

[Edward Hamilton]

If you can organize two dozen friends, you can probably get the local rum distributor to provide a sample bottle of several brands, or work with a local well-stocked bar or liquor retailer who is interested in increasing rum sales.



Depending on the state, you may or may not have some luck with distributors, and in some states it's illegal for distributors to give anyone without a license samples and some states distributors can't even give retailers samples.

I usually just ask everyone to bring a bottle of something, if someone repeatedly brings something not even they will drink, they don't get invited back next time.

[RumBarPhilly]

At our bar, when its slow and were bored. Some of us (myself, guests, and staff) will try playing "Name That Rum". As most of us have tried all our rums, it becomes very fun (and HARD). Our only rule is no top-shelfers, unless they wanna pay for it :)