I went to Miami to see my friends, to drink some rum, and to introduce people to my take on bitters. What a crazy party it was! This year, amongst the partying and rum drinking of the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival, it is important to understand that we did some real work by drinking…er.. tasting rum. I was so incredibly honored (and surprised!) to be invited to sit in that room full of distinguished rummies (the RumXPs) with volumes of rum laid out in rows. Serious business that, judging spirits…and challenging, too! I pride myself on knowing the taste of a quality spirit, but never have I tasted so many (129) in such strict and serious sessions. Imagine 20 or so glasses of rum spread before you twice a day for three days, separated by sponsored meals that included more rum. I was a child amongst men, I was riding the rum tide, I was proud and I was committed to my task. I may never graduate from guest to professional rum judge without rigorous training, but as a guest I got to have an insightful view into a world most of us will never know.
The blind tasting results in medals awarded to the best rums in each category each year. The value to we lovers of rum is that we can use these medals as roadmap to buying some of the most incredible cane spirits on the market. Below I have copied the results:
“The RumXPs were sequestered in their tasting room for three days of blind tasting trials. The rums were grouped and judged in categories of white, gold, aged, old aged, premium aged, dark, special cask, spiced, flavored, overproof, agricole and cacacha.
Their collective expertise as a group of judges is unrivaled in the spirits world. Their combined experience spans many dozens of countries and hundreds of brands. They are authors, lecturers, trainers, historians, journalists, consultants, collectors, proprietors, mixologists and promoters of rum.”
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BEST IN White: Gold: Aged: Old Aged: Premium Aged: Dark: Special Cask: Spiced: Flavored: Overproof: Agricole: Cacacha: |
GOLD White: Gold: Aged: Old Aged: Premium Aged: Special Cask: Spiced: Flavored: Overproof: Cacacha: |
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2013 RumXP Judging Panel Paul Artrip |
2013 Guest Judges Steve Drda |
Congratulations to all the fine rum brands and their outstanding spirits!
