Introduction
I’ve been asked a few times recently why I’m not supporting the Gargano Rum Classification. By support, I assume people are wondering why I haven’t featured the classification on the site? Or why I haven’t adopted it in my reviews?
Fact is, I have for a long time tried whenever possible to find out how the rum in my bottle has been produced. Which is exactly what the Gargano Rum Classification involves. Though I haven’t “come out” in favour quite as enthusiastically or as quickly as some, the more information disclosed the better in my book.
Rum is Fun so the mantra goes. I once asked Dave Broom if rum needed to lose its “fun” tag to improve its image. Dave’s overwhelming response was a very definite no. He has even mentioned me posing the question in his latest rum book The Manual.
Manchester Rum Festival was the city’s first real stab at a fully fledged Rum Festival. Over the past couple of years a few rum events have “sprung” up all over the country. With Rum Festivals being held in Cardiff, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield and of course the original Rumfest in London.
A while back I reviewed a Royal Navy rum from prior to Black Tot Day. I was able to do this by buying a sample from The Old Spirits Company.
The Rum Festival Newcastle was one of the events organised by Lucy Douglas and her team. Lucy is behind a travelling Rum Festival. Visiting towns and cities throughout the UK during 2017.
Some but maybe not all of you, will be familiar with Serge Valentin. Serge runs the extremely popular whisky website 
Until recently the only chance of attending a Rum Festival in the UK was at the annual UK Rumfest based in London. In late 2011 Jonathan Rees had a Eureka! moment to create a Rum festival in Cardiff.