Rum Renaissance 2010

I just returned from the best rum festival in the world! Of course I am biased, as I was invited to participate as a member of the International RumXP panel of judges.  This panel has over 25 representatives from many parts of the world including members from the continents of Europe, North America, and Australia.

I met  new and old friends and decided it would be nice to share a few of their thoughts from their websites with you.

Here is what they had to say:

Dwight The Wine Doctor writes:

Miami Rum Renaissance Festival 2010-Rum’s time has come

Miami Rum Renaissance: Beach Blanket Babylon!

Mike Streeter of Rum Connection writes:

Renaissance Rundown Pt.1 and Renaissance Rundown Pt. 2

The Rummelier, Bob Davies published this article:

2010 Miami Rum Renaissance – Redux

And my good cocktail buddy forrest writes:

2010 Miami Rum Renaissance – Redux

Of course many more articles on the Festival should be up coming and I will add the article links as they arrive.  My own take on the festivities was that I believe that Rum has arrived as a World Class spirit.  The variety of styles, and the variety of ages means that there are now rums produced not just for the cocktail lovers, but also for the casual spirits lovers and the serious aficionados.

I was of course part of the judging team that had to decide which of the over 100 rums entered in the International Rum Tasting Panel Competition were to be the first recipients of the International Rum Expert Panel Tasting Competition Awards.  So without further delay, here are the winners:

International Rum Expert Panel Tasting Competition Awards

Flavored and Spiced Rums

Castries Rum Creme – Gold – Best In Class
Seven Tiki – Silver
St. Lucia Spiced – Silver
St. Aubin Vanille – Bronze
Clement Creole Shrubb – Bronze

Rhums Agricole

Clement Cuvee Homere – Gold – Best In Class
Rhum J.M 1997 – Gold
Clement Rhum Vieux – Silver
Rhum J.M VSOP – Bronze

White Rums

Montanya Platino 21 – Gold – Best In Class
Sergeant Classick Silver – Silver
Ron Barcelo Platinum – Silver
St. Aubin White – Silver
Diplomatico Blanco – Bronze
Tommy Bahama White – Bronze

Gold Rums

Tommy Bahama Golden Sun – Gold – Best In Class
Cruzan Gold – Silver
Mahiki Gold – Silver
Montanya Oro – Silver
Ragged Mountian – Silver
Flor de Cana Gold 4 – Silver
Bacardi Gold – Bronze
Don Q Gold – Bronze

Dark Rums

Bacardi Select – Gold – Best In Class
Koloa Dark – Gold

Aged Up To 6 Years

Plantation Grande Reserve Barbados – Gold – Best In Class
Barcelo Grand Anejo – Gold
Mahiki Cognac Cask – Silver
Cartavio 5 – Silver
Bacardi Solera – Bronze
Bacardi Anejo – Bronze

Aged 7 To 12 Years

Abuelo 12 – Gold – Best In Class
Dos Maderas PX – Gold Best In Class
Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva – Gold
Bacardi 8 – Gold
Dictator 12 – Gold
Vizcaya 21 Cask – Silver
Ocumare Añejo Especial – Silver
Cruzan Single Barrel – Silver
Santa Teresa Selecto – Silver
Abuelo 7 Años – Bronze
Appleton Reserve – Bronze

Aged Over 12 Years

Cartavio XO – Gold – Best In Class
Zafra 21 – Gold
Matusalem 18 – Gold
Plantation XO 20th Anniversary – Gold
Barcelo Imperial – Gold
Dictador 20 – Gold
Appleton 12 – Silver
Santa Teresa 1796 – Silver
Cartavio Solera – Bronze
Rhum Barbancourt Réserve du Domaine – Bronze
Flor De Cana 18 – Bronze