2023 Event Preview
Bonaire Rum Week Expands for 2023
After a very successful first event in 2022, Bonaire Rum Week is returning in June 2023! The expanded 6-day event will feature multiple tastings and happy hours as well as several rum-paired dinners, including one at the Brass Boer restaurant presented by Michelin star restaurant managers Jonnie and Thérèse Boer. At the end of the week, there will be a collaboration with the Taste of Bonaire event in the island's quaint capital of Kralendijk to celebrate Bonaire's melting pot of cultures through food, music, and of course rum!
With most events taking place in the evening, the schedule allows attendees to also enjoy some of the incredible experiences Bonaire has to offer. From a tour of the Cadushy Distillery (producers of the local rum, Rom Rincon) to see how local ingredients including cactus are used to make spirits, to an expedition through Washington Slagbaai National Park to see wild flamingos and scenic ocean lookouts, there are plenty of activities to choose from. The island is also a top destination for scuba divers and snorkelers with endless pristine reefs to explore.
Schedule
Mon Jun 12: The event commences at 6 PM with a VIP rum tasting at Bamboo Bonaire, an intimate boutique resort near Kralendijk.
Tue Jun 13: The grand opening party for Bonaire Rum Week will be held from 5 PM to 8 PM on the waterfront at Rum Runners restaurant, which is also hosting a multi-course rum paired dinner immediately following the party.
Wed Jun 14: The Rum on the Beach event shifts to the evening this year, taking place from 5 PM to 8 PM at Plaza Resort Bonaire and featuring live music and plenty of premium rum.
Thu Jun 15: At 12 PM, a special multi-course rum-infused lunch created by star chef Rodrigo Sanchez will be offered for $99 per person at La Balandra Restaurant inside Harbour Village Beach Club. Later that evening from 5 PM to 7 PM, there will be a party at the Divi Flamingo Resort hosted by Rom Rincon, the island's local rum.
Fri Jun 16: The evening kicks off with a rum and cocktail party from 5 PM - 7 PM at Buddy Dive Resort. Following the party, there will be a multi-course rum culinary experience and after dinner cigars offered for $150 per person at the top-rated Brass Boer restaurant inside Delfins Beach Resort from 7 PM to 10 PM.
Sat Jun 17: This year, Bonaire Rum Week is collaborating with the Taste of Bonaire event to host a festival where both locals and visitors will gather to enjoy tastes of island dishes, live music, and rum!
Travel Information and Tips
Flights: Bonaire has a modern international airport with non-stop flights from several US cities including Miami, New York, Houston, and Atlanta. Connecting flights are also available through the neighboring islands of Aruba and Curacao. Since Bonaire is a Dutch island there are direct flights to the island from Amsterdam and connecting flights available throughout Europe.
Accommodations: There are a variety of accommodation options on the island, from quaint dive resorts to large, luxurious villas. Bonaire Rum Week hotel partners include Delfins Beach Resort, Harbour Village Beach Club, Captain Don's Habitat, Plaza Beach and Dive Resort, Grand Windsock, Bamboo Bonaire, Buddy Dive Resort, and Divi Flamingo Beach Resort. Villa rental companies, such as Sunwise Bonaire, are another option for families and groups that want more of a residential experience.
Island Transportation: A rental car is a must in Bonaire since destinations are fairly spread out and there are few taxis or public transportation options. Popular chains such as Avis and Hertz can be found at the airport and there are local companies who offer pickups at the airport. The most popular rental vehicle is a pickup truck with a scuba tank holder in the back since shore diving is extremely popular. Make sure to specify if an automatic transmission is necessary because some rental companies have vehicles with manual transmissions. The island is easy to navigate with mostly well-paved, flat roads. There are only a few gas stations on the island, and they often have long lines so allow plenty of time to fill up.
Travel Packages: For those who prefer the ease of booking a travel package, Bonaire Rum Week has partnered with Caradonna Adventures (https://www.caradonna.com/bonaire-rum-week ), who offers discounted hotel packages at partner resorts. Contact Timothy Webb at tim@caradonna.com for more information.
2022 Event Coverage
Opening Rum Event presented by Rum Papiamento
~ Rum Runners at Captain Don's Habitat ~
Bonaire Rum Week kicked off with a waterfront tasting of Aruba's Papiamento Rum. Rum enthusiasts mingled with brand representatives and the event organizers while sipping this Panama-sourced, Dutch Caribbean-inspired blended aged rum. Other premium rums were available for tasting as well, including San Pablo, Dutch Head, Clifton Estate, Ron Barcelo, Papa's Pilar, Don Q, and Siesta Key.
Rum Festival Dinner
~ Rum Runners at Captain Don's Habitat ~
Following the Opening Rum Event, participants were invited to stay for a five course rum-paired dinner at Rum Runners. The meal started with an aperitif consisting of an amuse bouche of seasoned beef served on a piece of coral and a Papiamento Old Fashioned. The first course was a delicious Caribbean gazpacho topped with Bonaire sea salted salmon. Next was the fresh catch ceviche, beautifully presented in a little glass fishbowl and paired with a pour of Papa's Pilar Blonde rum. The main course was sous vide duck breast and sweet potato served with Clifton Estate Spiced rum, followed by the fourth course of Delices de Bourgogne and Gorgonzola cheeses served on quirky bent spoon along with Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva rum. The dessert course was a coffee infused cheesecake paired with Rom Rincon Limited Edition 2022 rum. Although a bit lengthy (about 3 hours long), the meal was a great value, priced at $75 per person.
Rum on the Beach presented by Rum San Pablo
~ Plaza Beach & Dive Resort ~
Day 2 of Bonaire Rum Week began with a sunny beachside afternoon tasting with Rum San Pablo from the nearby island of Curacao. Their Reserva 1945 series, named for the year production first began in Curacao, includes the 8 Year, 12 Year, and 15 Year expressions which were all available for tasting. Other brands such as Clifton Estate and San Juan Artisan Distillers presented their rums as well, with the rhythms of a live steel drum band providing a tropical soundtrack to the event.
Cocktail Competition presented by Diplomatico
~ Tiki & Co ~
During the second night of Bonaire Rum Week, a cocktail competition was held at Bonaire's impressive new tiki-themed bar Tiki & Co in downtown Kralendijk. The island's top mixologists were challenged with creating a new cocktail using Diplomatico Rum to be prepared and judged live in front of the crowd of rum enthusiasts. In addition to watching the competition, attendees enjoyed Tiki & Co's original craft cocktails served in unique tiki mugs from around the globe.
Rum Lunch presented by San Juan Artisan Distillers
~ Harbour Village Beach Club ~
The third day of Bonaire Rum Week started with a three-course lunch with rum pairings at La Balandra Bar and Restaurant inside Harbour Village Beach Club. This unique restaurant is modeled after a wooden ship, complete with a large ship's wheel and bowsprit, overlooking the stunning Bonaire coast. Lunch began with a rum-marinated mojito wahoo appetizer with fennel salad, rum crème fraiche, and herring caviar served alongside a refreshing mojito. Next was the main course of rum-glazed barbequed short rib paired with a fruity rum sangria and several rum samples. Lastly was the drunken piña dessert, which included pineapple infused with rum and spices, a pumpkin and caramel crème almond cake, and rum raisin ice cream. The all-inclusive meal was priced at $70 per person.
Happy Hour presented by Clifton Estate Rum
~ Blennies at Buddy Dive Resort Bonaire ~
Day 3 of Bonaire Rum Week also included a waterfront happy hour with Clifton Estate Rum at Blennies Restaurant & Bar at Buddy Dive Resort Bonaire. This spiced rum from the island of Nevis was served straight up and in several cocktails such as a shaken daiquiri and Cuba Libre. A few passed hors d'oeuvres were provided as well, and attendees enjoyed the rum and conversation as the sun set over the water.
Rum Tasting Workshop for Bartenders
The final day of Bonaire Rum Week kicked off with a rum tasting workshop for local bartenders. This event was facilitated by judges from the Caribbean Rum Awards and provided the opportunity for attendees to taste and learn about a variety of premium rum expressions.
Happy Hour presented by Rom Rincon
~ Divi Flamingo Beach Resort ~
The last evening of Bonaire Rum Week began with a happy hour sponsored by Rom Rincon, known as "The Spirit of Bonaire". These rums are produced locally at The Cadushy Distillery in its namesake town of Rincon in the northwest region of the island. Eric Gietman, the master distiller, gave a brief overview of the distillery and introduced each of the Rom Rincon expressions as samples were passed out for guests to taste. Mixers were also available for those who preferred a cocktail, and there was a secondary area serving samples of other rums such as Ron Pepon, Papiamento, San Pablo, and Rhum Depaz. The event concluded with a live auction of bottle #1 of Rom Rincon's limited-edition rum for 2022, with the winning bid of $500 donated a local charity.
Multi-Course Rum Culinary Experience
~ Brass Boer - Delfins Beach Resort ~
Day 4 of Bonaire Rum Week ended in style with a four-course dinner at Brass Boer restaurant inside Delfins Beach Resort. The restaurant is the creation of three-star Michelin chefs Johnny and Therese Boer and has received many awards including Best Restaurant in the Caribbean from Caribbean Journal. Dinner began with foie gras served with Rom Rincon Private Stock rum, plum compote, and brioche, followed by a second course of Caribbean sea bass and chicken rendang. The third course included Dutch farmers' duck breast with carrots and gravy of hay alongside stew topped with smoked egg foam. Lastly was the dessert course of banana royale with Thérèse's Rumour Premium Rum, hazelnut, toasted white chocolate, and chocolate sauce. Various festival rums were also available for sipping throughout dinner. This was the most expensive meal of the event (priced at $90 per person), but it was truly a unique and unforgettable dining experience.
Cigars and Rum on the Sand presented by Papa's Pilar
~ Club Tropicana - Delfins Beach Resort ~
The final event of Bonaire Rum Week was a VIP cigar and rum tasting afterparty on the sand at Delfins Beach Resort. Papa's Pilar provided their Blonde, Dark, and Sherry Finished rums for guests to sip and plenty of cigars were also offered. There were other premium rums available as well, including Havana Club 15, Dutch Head, and Don Q Vermouth Cask. It was a relaxing and enjoyable end to a wonderful week of rum, sun, and fun on the island of Bonaire.