Your next adventure, Rum, Rhythms, Culture and Cuisine
Nassau, Bahamas – From February 27 to March 01, 2015 seasoned rum connoisseurs, cultured consumers, social sippers or those that are simply rum lovers will have the opportunity to treat themselves at Festival RumBahamas, a premier international rum extravaganza at historical Fort Charlotte in Nassau.
“Rum is often associated with a storied life at sea from the time of buccaneering and later, during America’s prohibition and is of vital importance to the history of the Islands of The Bahamas” said Ms. Charity Armbrister, Director of Events, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. “The Bahamas has a long history with pirates and rum that began in the 1600’s when pirates started appearing in The Bahamas and subsequently, when the first distillation of rum took place on the sugarcane plantations of the Caribbean in the 17th century. The Bahamas was also a trans-shipment point in the rum-running era in the 1920’s and 1930’s where rum was smuggled in ships from Bimini to Florida. The 3-day Festival RumBahamas with its unique and exciting range of fabled rums to be enjoyed is an absolute fit for us to celebrate our adventurous past, our culture, our cuisine and the impact this notable spirit has on our heritage” she continued.
According to Alexandra Lynch, creator and visionary of the festival, the reasons for creating a festival of this kind were clear. “The Bahamas has a lot to offer, more than sun, sand and sea. We wanted to create a festival that showcased aspects of our history that we don’t typically celebrate, piracy, rum-running, and how those past events have given birth to our distinct flavours and a culture of appreciation for the art and beauty of rum making” she said.
Rum lovers around the world owe a great debt to a simple plant, sugar cane and rum lovers are fortunate because rum is a category of spirits that offers many ideal values — blends that taste like they should cost way more than they actually do — so the rum drinker can very easily find great rums, both white and dark, at very reasonable prices. Festival RumBahamas will host diverse and unique rums from across the Caribbean as well as international brands, alongside a unique cultural experience for Bahamians and visitors.
The event will present an enviable assembly of local, regional and international rum exhibitors for product sampling with the opportunity to buy all that you try, along with master classes on rum, bartending and cocktail competitions. Over 30 intriguing rums will be available for sampling. Among the stimulating live demonstrations will be one uncovering how sugarcane and molasses contribute to the mysterious process of rum distillation plus an international rum competition with an exclusive category of “Boutique Rums of The Bahamas and The Caribbean”.
Cuisine will take center stage as international and local chefs demonstrate the creative use of rum in food with fresh takes on long loved Caribbean favorites. Locally sourced jams, jellies, sauces, barbecue glazes and other rum and sugarcane inspired condiments will be available for purchase.
Just one beat of the Junkanoo Drum will let you know that RumBahamas is the ultimate non-stop Bahamian party. From ‘Fire dancing’ to ‘Flash mobs’ there will be performances by collection of entertainers from The Bahamas and the Caribbean including a Bahamian Circus, Emanji; The Junkanoo Commandos; bands from the Haitian, Jamaican and Cuban communities playing calypso and reggae music; storytellers; theatrical performances, limbo dancing, steel drum music; Junkanoo rush-outs; Bahamian celebrity performers and Rake ‘n’ Scrape in addition to celebrity DJs playing their favorite music.
Operations Director Catherine Chisnall-Mitchell added, “We will have some of the world’s finest rum on offer at the festival; they represent the Caribbean region at its best. We are especially proud to have the Watling’s Distillery on board. To complement these great products our entertainment will be just as impressive so you should come prepared to eat, to dance and to have three days of purely distilled enjoyment.”
