The 2018 edition of the California Rum Festival saw the four-year old-event hitting its stride. Held in the Soma Arts building for the third year running, many of the prior year’s small kinks were absent. People lined up around the block to get in, good rum flowed, and the international rum family joyously celebrated together–before, during, and after.

Most of the usual local rum heavyweights were present –Martin and Rebecca Cate of Smuggler’s Cove had a booth selling tots of rare rum for charity. Also omnipresent was Josh Miller from Inu A Kena, Suzanne Long of Rum Academy, and Dave Russell of the seminal rum blog Rum Gallery.

Martin & Rebecca Cate Tots for charity! Suzanne Long Martin Cate & Josh Miller Dave Russell & Cocktail Wonk A busy show floor!

My hometown of Seattle was well represented – Kate Perry (ex-Rumba) helmed the very-popular La Maison & Velier booth, Nick Feris repping Rum Fire, and of course, the festival organizer, Federico Hernandez of The Rum Lab.

Kate Perry Nick Feris

You know a festival’s doing well when it draws a big international crowd of exhibitors and speakers. Among the highlights, Ian “Rum Ambassador” Burrell, Foursquare Distillery’s master distiller Richard Seale, Benoit Bail and Jerry Gitany of the Agricole Tour, and Alexander “Zan” Kong of Worthy Park Estate.

Cocktail Wonk & Ian Burrell Cocktail Wonk, Richard Seale & Josh Miller Cocktail Wonk, Josh Miller, Benoit Bail & Jerry Gitany Kiowa Bryan and Zan Kong

Other rummy luminaries included Bryan Davis of Lost Spirits, Kiowa Bryan and Benjamin Jones of Rhum Clemént, Roberto Serrallés of Destillería Serrallés (aka Don Q), and the Real McCoy’s Bailey Pryor.

Cocktail Wonk, Benjamin Jones & Martin Cate Dominic Alling Kate Perry & Roberto Serrallés Diplomatico Michael Goldman Daniel “Doc” Parks Cocktail Wonk & Faith Xu (@BarFaith) Rums or Puerto Rico

I won’t even attempt to describe the many seminars that went on throughout the day. I was so busy chatting with friends new and old that I didn’t make it to any except for a brief few moments at the beginning of Kate Perry’s talk. Normally I won’t miss a rum talk, but with so many great people to chat with, I take it as a sign the show is firing on all cylinders. Apologies for anybody I forgot to mention! I can’t wait to return for the fifth anniversary 2019 California Rum Festival next year!