Glen Mutel, editor of National Geographic Traveller Food, said: “For many years, gin has hogged the limelight, but rum is having its moment in the sun. It’s a key driver of the rise of craft spirits, and there have never been more varieties available, whether dark, white, spiced, golden or aged. All of which is great news for rum lovers like me, and it’s exciting to see so many interesting types of rum from all over world appearing at this year’s festival.” 

Rum is experiencing a surge in popularity, with sales topping the £1bn mark in the UK for the first time in 2018, according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association. This has been accompanied by a huge increase in choice, with almost 200 different rum brands now available in the UK today, compared with only 50 in 2006.

To reflect this trend, the festival will bring together rums from around the world. These include five varieties from Grenada, including Old Grog and Black Gold; local rums from Nicaragua; and Cargo Cult, a small-batch spiced rum made with spirits from Papua New Guinea and Fiji. Meanwhile, visitors to both the Bahamas and Dominica stands can enjoy an array of rum-based cocktails.

In addition to rum sampling, visitors can also take part wine workshops and tastings, courtesy of The Wine Society, while under-the-radar wine destinations such as Israel, Tunisia and Greece will offer visitors a chance to broaden their knowledge and discover new favourites. 

And there’s more

Visitors will also be able to sample food from around the globe, from jerk-spiced Caribbean jackfruit to street food from Budapest. And, in the masterclass theatres, they can learn how to create stunning dishes, from tortellini with a twist to Le Cordon Bleu’s gluten-free black burger with seaweed and tofu.

Meanwhile, on the main stage, there’ll be a curated programme of celebrated speakers, from French culinary icon Raymond Blanc and food personalities John Torode and Andi Oliver to a host of top chefs, including Gennaro Contaldo, Adam Handling and Zoe Adjonyoh, who will all be exhibiting their skills via live cooking demonstrations. Check the website for the full line-up. 

Tickets cost £22 and include plenty of delicious – and free — sampling and learning opportunities.