3rd Caribbean Rum & Beer Festival
Q: Your first two events were held in Barbados and this year your festival will be in Grenada. Can you tell us how this came about? What made you decide to move the event?
A: Hosting the Caribbean Rum & Beer Festival in different islands in the Caribbean is a way to demonstrate that this event is a truly unique regional Festival. We felt that Grenada with its 4 rum companies and award winning brewery was an ideal location. When we approached the Grenada Board of Tourism they were incredibly enthusiastic and willing to partner with us.
Q: As organizers of the event, what are some highlights you can tell our readers to expect at your festival? What are some things vendors can expect?
A: For our patrons, there will be: the opportunity to sample and purchase a wide variety of rum and beer products, a chance to meet producers and learn more about the products, guided rum tasting sessions, presentations from rum experts and pairing of rum with Grenada’s world famous organic chocolate.
For vendors, we are offering a unique plat form to promote, market and retail their products to a significant international and regional audience. The Festival at tracts industry experts, trade buyers and key influencers in an environment that is perfect for one-on-one discussions and the building of relationships.
Q: For those vendors out there that are interested in participating in your event, how may they contact you and what are the procedures for them to submit their products for the tasting competitions?
A: There are 2 ways to showcase rum and beer products at the Festival, either by taking a booth onsite at the venue, or by shipping product to us and letting us arrange for samples to be poured throughout the event. Vendors can find more information on our website (www.rumandbeerfestival.com) or they can call us at (246) 262-0314 and we will be more than happy to assist.
Q: Will we only see Caribbean rums and beers or can we expect a much bigger variety from other parts of the world?
A: Our range of rum and beers will come from across the world, including the Caribbean, South America, North America and Europe.
Q: Will there be any media coverage for your event?
A: The Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) will be covering the entire event for broadcast on the Carib Vision TV channel. They will also be producing a 30 minute TV documentary called “Caribbean Rum & Beer Festival 2012”. We have also received media inquires from Canada, the U.S.A. and India.
Q: Can you tell us a little more about your tasting sessions and who are the industry experts behind these sessions?
A: The CAB Tasting Competition is a blind tasting contest. We have separate international expert panels of rum and beer judges. The products are categorised and the judges evaluate the products based on four criteria: appearance, aroma, taste and overall impression. The contest takes place over a 5 hour session. The top 3 products in each category are awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze based solely on the expert judges evaluations.
Our rum panel consists of recognised, experienced international experts with a wide global outreach. The panel includes: rum consultants, rum magazine editors and rum website publishers.
Q: Sounds like you have some great entertainment with live Caribbean steel pan music. Can you tell us a little more about the band(s)? Will they only be performing at certain times during the festival? Or will it be continuous music throughout the entire festival?
A: As this is an authentic Caribbean festival, there will be music throughout the event. We have a mixture for both days of steel pan orchestras, calypso singers, reggae music, African drummers and even the occasional karaoke singer!
Q: You have our mouths watering with your mention of Authentic Grenadian & Creole food. Can you give us a teaser as to some of the foods we can expect to be there?
A: For the Festival we believe that the food on offer should fully represent the rich heritage of the host country. So this year our food vendors will be offering a selection which will include: the national dish of Grenada, Oildown (meat, green bananas and breadfruit in coconut milk), pepperpot (meat, vegetables and cassareep), rotis (curried meat / fish wrapped in a crepe type skin), lambie (conch), salt fish and bakes, and nutmeg ice cream.
Q: When and where will your next event take place?
A: We want to keep with the 1st weekend in November, that way our growing band of supporters can mark the event on their calendar. The host country for the 2013 Festival is going to be a very tough choice between Grenada, Jamaica or the Cayman Islands.
Q: Anything else you would like to share with our readers?
A: This year for the first time we have a full week of activities starting on Monday, October 29th, right through to late Saturday night November 2nd. Activities include distillery and brewery connoisseur tours, a catamaran Booze Cruise, a golf tournament, an evening of food prepared with rum and beer, an evening Grenadian cultural extravaganza, and culminating in the ‘Silent Headphone Disco After Party’. There is an activity for everybody to enjoy and we are looking forward to welcoming the world to the 2012 Caribbean Rum & Beer Festival in Grenada.
Thank you for giving us this opportunity to share information about the Caribbean Rum & Beer Festival with your readers.
Ms. Cheryl Collymore and Dr. Glyn Williams