Exclusive tastings, intimate master classes, rum-paired dinners, and a harborside rum expo with a backdrop of stunning beaches, glamourous resorts, and warm island breezes - this is the Caribbean Rum Awards, and it is not your typical rum festival.
Launched in 2018 in Saint Lucia by Caribbean Journal and subsequently moved to Saint Barthélemy, the Caribbean Rum Awards is a week-long event where producers of high-quality sugarcane-based spirits showcase some of their finest products. Judges from around the globe evaluate premium and “Uber-Premium” rum and rhum agricole in a blind tasting, which includes some of the most expensive rums/rhums in the world. Activities throughout the week include rum tastings, master classes with distillers, rum and cocktail-paired dinners, rum and cigar socials, a cocktail competition, ti’ punch parties, and a harborside rum festival.
The first thing that sets this event apart is its location. Most rum festivals are held in convention centers or hotel conference rooms, often indoors and packed with people. Conversely, the Caribbean Rum Awards takes place on the small, opulent island of St. Barth (as it is affectionately known) in the eastern Caribbean. Instead of loud, crowded rooms on the mainland, this event offers an exclusive VIP experience to discerning rum enthusiasts on a tropical island in the heart of the rum world - the Caribbean. St. Barth is also home to the Rhum Room, an exclusive speakeasy-style bar with one of the most extensive collections of rum in the world. Created by global rum expert Christopher Davis, this bar hosts private tastings and master classes with some of the world's top distillers.
Another distinguishing feature of the Caribbean Rum Awards are the rums themselves. Instead of high-volume rums with big marketing budgets, this event draws artisanal brands that offer premium and rare expressions (including some of the most expensive rums in the world). Unlike most rum award events, there is no fee for producers to enter this competition which allows for a more inclusive pool of rums to be evaluated. Further, since no rum is actually produced on the island, St. Barth provides a unique, unbiased environment for judging and brand presentation. Although this is a French island that attracts mainly rhum agricole (distilled from fresh-pressed sugar cane in the French Caribbean islands), there are many molasses-based rums presented as well.
Check out the Caribbean Rum Awards website for more information:
This year's event took place from Nov. 1 - 6 in St. Barth
In November 2022, the Caribbean Rum Awards returned to the French Caribbean island of St. Barth for a one-of-a-kind event featuring extraordinary rums from around the globe. The week was jam-packed with master classes, ti' punch parties, rum and cigar pairings, rum cocktail paired dinners, and a waterfront rum expo. A panel of eight spirits industry professionals convened to judge almost 60 unique rums to determine the best-in-class across eight categories, and ultimately crowned Rhum Neisson 21 90th Anniversary as the World Champion. The Caribbean Rum Awards proved to be the ultimate luxury rum experience for anyone who appreciates this diverse spirit.
Opening Party presented by Rhum Neisson:
~ Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa ~
The Caribbean Rum Awards kicked off with a rooftop party and tasting with Rhum Neisson at the luxurious Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa in Grand Cul-de-Sac. Guests enjoyed ti' punch, the traditional cocktail of the French Caribbean made with rhum agricole, lime, and sugar cane syrup, as the sun set in St. Barth. The stunning 360-degree views of the island were paired with tastes of several expressions from Rhum Neisson, including the Vieux, XO, and the 2003 Fút Unique single cask, along with cigars from Davidoff.
Rum Cocktail Paired Dinner:
~ Quarter Kitchen & Cocktail Lab ~
Tickets to the Caribbean Rum Awards included a four-course rum cocktail paired dinner at the Quarter Kitchen & Cocktail Lab in downtown Gustavia. The meal began with an amuse bouche followed by the first course, which included chicken dumplings in yuzu sesame sauce paired with a yuzu and bitter orange Clairin Communal cocktail. The second course featured bao buns with Chinese roasted duck accompanied by a Rhum Karukera cocktail made with mango, lime, and egg white. The main course of hanger steak, kimchi, and Tsukemen noodles was served alongside a spicy chili shrub and pineapple cocktail with La Favorite rhum agricole. The dessert course was a local banana cake topped with matcha cream and coconut ice cream and paired with a Ron Diplomático Old Fashioned-style cocktail featuring cinnamon, chocolate bitters, and tonka bean.
Rum and Cigar Pairings:
~ Rhum Room ~
Following the rum cocktail paired dinners on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, rum and cigar pairings were offered in the Rhum Room (which is set up as a speakeasy inside the Quarter Kitchen & Cocktail Lab). Flor de Caña hosted the first pairing, which included tastings of their 25 Year, 130th Anniversary, and V Generaciones 30 Year rums paired with dark chocolate as well as a Davidoff Nicaraguan cigar. The second evening featured Ron Diplomático, where their Reserva Exclusiva rum was paired with a Diplomaticos Cuban cigar.
Master Classes:
~ Rhum Room ~
Ticketholders could choose to attend two of the 12 master classes that were offered during the week, including Rhum Clément, Reimonenq, La Favorite, Rhum Bielle, Flor de Caña, Rhum Neisson, Plantation Rum, La Maison and Velier, Holmes Cay, HSE, and Diplomático. Rum Traveler participated in four of these master classes:
Ti' Punch Party presented by Rhum Damoiseau:
~ Les Ilets de la Plage ~
On Thursday evening, guests made their way out of Gustavia and over the hill to Les Ilets de la Plage, a quaint beachside resort in St. Jean. Rhum Damoiseau provided ti’ punches made with a choice of Rhum Blanc 50° or Rhum Vieux while guests mingled and discussed the events of the week. As the sun set, hors d'oeuvres were served poolside and several aged Damoiseau expressions were offered. This was a relaxing break from the hustle and bustle of Gustavia and a great way to recharge before the Rum Expo on Friday night.
St Barth Rum Festival Expo:
~ Quai d'Honneur - Gustavia ~
The biggest event of the week was held on the waterfront in Gustavia on Friday evening, with a backdrop of mega-yachts and the Caribbean stars. This event was open to the public and allowed ticketholders, island visitors, and locals to come together and celebrate the spirit of rum. Fourteen rum producers from all over the Caribbean, including Rhum Neisson, HSE, Holmes Cay, Velier, Plantation, Baie des Tresors, Clairin, Flor de Caña, Mount Gay, and others presented their expressions for attendees to taste. There was a cocktail bar offering shaken daiquiris, a Davidoff cigar lounge, and a live band playing island music for guests to enjoy.
Caribbean Rum Awards Judging:
~ Quarter Kitchen & Cocktail Lab ~
This year there were nearly 60 rums across eight categories entered in the competition, ranging in price from €40 to over €2,000. Over 75% of these expressions were rhum agricoles from Martinique and Guadeloupe, a rare occurrence in rum competitions which are usually dominated by molasses-based rums. Eight professionals from the spirits industry blind-tasted and evaluated these rums during the three-hour judging session held at the Quarter Kitchen & Cocktail Lab in downtown Gustavia. Judges included: Alexander Britell, editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal; Guy Britton, managing editor and EVP of Caribbean Journal; Christopher Davis, global rum expert and proprietor of the Rhum Room St Barth; Jose Antonio Hernandez-Solaun, rum expert and international cigar sommelier; Peter Berntsen, COO of Empire Social Lounge in Miami and founder of Miami Rum Month; Guy Ferdinand, renowned Caribbean chef and owner of Martinique’s Le Petibonum; Myssi Davis, co-founder of Rum Traveler; and Ivan Jivkov, Cuban rum expert. The complete list of winning rums from each category is provided below.
Rhum Agricole Blanc - 50 Degrees and Below:
Rhum Agricole Blanc - Over 50 Degrees:
VSOP:
XO:
Hors d’Age:
Uber-Premium Agricole:
Premium Molasses:
Uber-Premium Molasses:
World Champion: Rhum Neisson 21 90th Anniversary
The primary gateways from the United States to St. Barth are Saint Martin (SXM) and San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU):
St. Barth is a luxury destination and that is reflected in the cost of the island's accommodations. Fortunately, the Caribbean Rum Awards take place at the end of the summer season which offers the lowest rates of the year. Resorts such as Le Barthelemy and Les Ilets de la Plage offer lavish rooms in stunning beachfront locations but come with a hefty price tag even in low season. A more affordable option is renting a private villa from WIMCO. Villas are available all over the island and most offer private pools and spectacular views. Larger villas can often be rented with fewer bedrooms at a lower rate, making this a great choice even for couples and small groups.
A rental car is a must in St. Barth since there is no public transportation and taxis are scarce. Popular chains such as Avis and Hertz offer a variety of vehicles at reasonable rates and have a larger inventory than independent companies. The island is fairly easy to navigate although roads are narrow and can be very steep, so a small sedan or 4WD SUV are ideal choices. Note that there are only two gas stations on the island, one at the airport and another in L'Orient, and both are closed on Sunday. They also do not accept US credit cards at the pump so payment must be made inside the station.
Copyright © 2023 Rum Traveler - All Rights Reserved.