It’s almost time for our Think Rum event, which will once again kick off the New Year with a day of debates, tastings and presentations to delve deeper into this incredibly versatile and increasingly popular category.
The event will be coming to the capital on January 30, following on from a year of rising rums sales in the on and off-trades, an increase in the number of rum-focused new openings and also a Christmas trading period when rum is expected to rival gin for serves and sales.
Rum connoisseur Peter Holland, who runs The Floating Rum Shack is co-chairing the Harpers and Drinks Retailing News event.
For Holland, the aim is to enable on and off-trade buyers to upwardly explore the category via workshops, debates and tastings and to challenge the perception that ‘rum is rum’.
“I’ve got three or four expressions and a fab pouring deal with a big brand, so I’m all set, right?” asks Holland.
“The strength of the category is the versatility and the weakness is that without proper communication and education, a bar could be missing out on all sorts of opportunities. The rum’s flavour profile, brand history and connections could all be utilised in a far more effective manner. Simply assuming that the cheapest brand is the best solution for your bar is a dangerous route to follow.”
Looking at the details will be one of the event’s key focuses, with the opportunity to taste premium brands side-by-side.
A series of presentations are also planned to stimulate thought and debate, with the aim of looking at the category with the same connoisseurship as categories such as whisky.
Holland said: “Do you really know it all? Deep down, do you know that a fresh look might make sense? The rum world has jumped forward a lot in the last few years in terms of the questions being asked of it and its response to these questions. Let’s be honest and look past the marketing and consider the rum itself.”
Our series of Think events, which include Think Gin and Think Indie aren’t exhibitions – they offer an immersive day of debates, workshops, insight and tastings.
Think Rum 2018 will connect a focused number of rum brands with a targeted buying audience.
Buyers will be able to expand their knowledge and range of the world’s leading producers and craft distillers of rum.
Venue to be announced in the coming weeks.
To register your place and grow along-side this ever-expanding category please follow link http://bit.ly/2AZBJkA
For sponsorship opportunities contact: Erica Stuart on +44(0) 1293 558132 or email Erica.Stuart@agilemedia.co.uk
Photo: Peter Holland