Taste of Rum celebrates 15 years

Organised by The Rum Lab, the annual Taste of Rum conference will host its 15th edition on 29 March at the Puerto Rico Convention Center.

 

The annual event features exclusive rum tastings, live music, and an educational conference, attracting thousands of tourists and industry experts to Puerto Rico.

Since its inception in 2009 by The Rum Lab, the event has become ‘the largest’ rum festival and conference in the Caribbean and the Americas.

To commemorate its 15-year milestone, the event will unveil an anniversary mural featuring the #RumIsFun photography exhibition by Puerto Rican artist Bernardo Medina.

The third annual Taste of Rum educational conference will bring together top industry experts and key brands from local and international markets.

Attendees can look forward to discovering new Puerto Rican rums, including Ron Capicu and Ron Capó, and the relaunch of Ron Caray from Juncos. Additionally, participants can explore international brands such as Hampden Estate from Jamaica.

At the event, rum expert and the founder of Taste of Rum, Federico José Hernández, will present the second edition of his book, Puerto Rico Rum-Clopedia.

The expanded edition includes a revised chapter on the PR Distilling Company in Arecibo, insights into Puerto Rican ultra-premium rums like Ron Superior, and newly curated historical images of Bacardí.

Hernández said: “During the event, guests will enjoy a carefully curated selection of Puerto Rican and international rums, guided tastings by expert bartenders, and engaging educational panels. Music will be a key part of the experience, with live salsa bands, batucada performances, local DJs, and special tributes to Guns N’ Roses and salsa legends.”

Tickets for the event are now available at the PR Tickets website, and information about the conference can be found on the Taste of Rum site.

Economic impact

The festival is said to generate a direct economic impact on the island’s culture, tourism, and hospitality industries.

The island’s rum industry directly and indirectly employs more than 16,000 people across manufacturing, distribution, sales, and marketing, contributing approximately US$450 million annually to the local economy.

Additionally, the festival attracts an average of 600 international tourists per year.

Since 2009, the event has contributed an estimated 7,800-9,000 hotel nights, further supporting the island’s tourism sector.

Rums of Puerto Rico is a government agency established in 1948 under the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC), founded by Teodoro Moscoso and Luis Muñoz Marin. Today, Sebastián Negrón Reichard, the new DDEC secretary, oversees the agency under recently elected governor Jenniffer González-Colón.

Hernández emphasised the festival’s impact: “Taste of Rum reaffirms Puerto Rico as the rum capital, promoting our industry worldwide and strengthening our culture, tourism, and local economy. We invite everyone to be part of this unique experience.

“Taste of Rum strengthens Puerto Rico’s position as a global leader in the rum industry. This event showcases our heritage and craftsmanship and drives tourism, investment, and economic growth.”

Last November, Rums of Puerto Rico showcased its offerings in a tour of four major Texas cities.