Havana to become the world capital of rum in 2004

From June 6 to 9 next year, the Cuban capital will put on its best frills for the first edition of the International Rum Festival. The event will also come as part of the festivities to mark the 485th anniversary of the city’s foundation. The details on the festival were mentioned in the course of a news conference held in Old Havana’s Rum Museum.

The press conference was led by Cuba’s Vice Minister of Food Industry Octavio Rubio Bernal, Conrado Martinez Corona (Chairman of the Cuban Convention Bureau) and Juan Gonzalez Escalona, Vice President of CubaRon.

The festival will provide a right setting for gathering rum distillers, dealers and makers of raw materials from all around the globe who will rub elbows with some of the best food producers, coffee planters, chocolate makers and other manufacturers related to the run industry and its consumption. The meeting will similarly draw sommeliers, barmen, clients, friends and spirit lovers from every nook and cranny. For many, Havana will be the world capital of rum for a few days.

Some of the festival’s activities include the opening cocktail, the tradeshow, master lectures, visits to places linked to the rum-making industry, the gala dinner and the much anticipated international cocktail contest in the classical and freestyle categories.