Let’s get ready to ‘rum’ble as the world’s finest rum brands plan a special gathering for this year’s highly anticipated Manchester Rum Festival. This year’s eveny takes place on Saturday 28th August, 12pm to 7pm at the 4-star Mercure Hotel in Piccadilly Gardens.
After rum fans were left festival-less due to the pandemic, the 2020/21 event is finally all set to place Manchester on the map as a rum destination – and over 1,000 litres of rum are expected to be poured in Manchester on the day.
Rum fans are all welcome to enjoy a jam-packed day of education, immersion, and celebration of all things rum. The Manchester Rum Festival will bring over 30 rum brands together, from local favourites to brands from around the world - including some never-tasted-before rums.
Visitors will be able to meet single and multi-distillery producers, as well as sampling some flavour-enhanced varieties. With food by Mercure and live music, this drinks festival will bring together rum producers and brands, mixologists, spirits enthusiasts, and rum fans.
Rums will hail from as far as Jamaica and Venezuela and nearer to home in Salford, Manchester and Lancashire. Contemporary brands such as Saint Benevolence, AB Gold, Ninefold and Montanya will be showcased for the first time at the event, while local brands Diablesse, Salford Rum, Witch Kings and City of Manchester Distillery are also confirmed as exhibitors. New Cuban rum brand Black Tears, from the Island Rum Company, will also be available on taste - the world’s first dry spiced Cuban rum.
The Manchester Rum Festival was established five years ago by Dave Marsland (pictured), a Manchester-based event curator, spirits expert and bar owner, to define Manchester as a rum destination and to showcase the contribution the north west is making to the current rum renaissance.
“The event has grown in size, attendance and importance every year and I’m so excited we have such fantastic brands exhibiting this year,” says Dave. “We’re in talks with more producers so we’ll be adding to the exhibitor list over the coming weeks.
“The rum industry is definitely in revival mode and rum makers are raising the bar when it comes to quality, sophistication and creativity of finished products and serves. It’s amazing that we have so many top end rum brands and products being launched right here in the north west, and we promise a warm Mancunian welcome to all of our rum producers and guests. Like many events, we have had to postpone and rearrange several times due to the pandemic, so we are thrilled to be able to have a set date and a new venue to bring some much-needed rum fun to the city! What’s more, the space has a huge occupancy, so attendees can enjoy what’s on offer in a substantial space with safety measures firmly in place wherever required."
Manchester’s first and only dedicated official rum festival is sponsored by Coca-Cola Signature Mixers which have been specifically designed by some of the world’s most influential and innovative mixologists to be paired with premium dark spirits.
The event has been a sell-out for the previous four years, so book your ticket soon to join in this celebration of fermented and distilled sugarcane.
Tickets are £30 (plus booking fee), including all samples (Mercure bar and food are not included in the ticket price.) A selection of rums will be able to purchase by the bottle to take away. Over 21s only. Last pour strictly at 6.45pm
Visit https://manchesterrumfestival.com/tickets/
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