A taste of Jamaica Rum Festival 2020
Published:Thursday | January 23, 2020 | 12:00 AMKrysta Anderson/Gleaner Writer
Jamaica Rum Festival is back for its second staging, and has already set a precedent of excellence at its recently held launch at the East Lawns of Devon House. Food was on location to savour every mouth-watering moment.
The enchanting getaway boasted the best in rum the island has to offer and delicious dishes to devour, courtesy of caterer and chef, Andre Sewell. On spot, Mixologist Christopher Hyatt showcased his expertise, creating sensational mixes like sweet whisper, sunset overall, Monymusk spice and Monymusk fusion. The talented Sewell provided guests with a beautiful buffet spread of smoked pulled pork with white rum sorrel pepper jelly, chicken soup, fish and potato cakes with smoked paprika aioli, chicken and plantain stir fry, coconut and spiced rum black bean tomato stew, five-spice bread pudding with dark rum caramel and chocolate panna cotta with drunken strawberry compote, displaying live cooking on site.
Festival director Valon Thorpe whet the appetites of his attentive audience as he pledges to continue the journey from cane to cocktail. Two seminar houses to facilitate the great demand of rum education, a bigger and even better food court, and dare we say, greater access to the spirits with a 360 bar where you can drink responsibly. There’s also a mixology competition, so look out for that. The two-day JRF Flight is happy to announce returning palate pilots J. Wray and Nephew, The Joy Spence Appleton Estate Rum Experience, Appleton Estate, Monymusk, Hampden Estate, Wisynco, and welcomed new sponsors Worthy Park Estate on board. “We have a unique product that is ingrained in our culture and is something to be celebrated,” Thorpe declared.
Mark your calendars: Jamaica Rum Festival will be ready for takeover on February 29 and March 1, so book your tickets.