The Astonishing Caribbean Rum Festival is Back in 2022

The Rum Festival is an annual celebration of Caribbean culture and the beloved spirit that has become synonymous with the region. The fifth annual Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth will take place from November 1-6, 2022, and will be a week-long celebration of artisanal rums from the region’s best producers.

From the inaugural party at the exclusive Le Barthelemy hotel to master classes with famous distillers to the Tradewind Rum Expo to rum-and-cocktail matching meals at the Quarter Kitchen and Cocktail Lab to rum-and-cigar after-parties, the week is jam-packed with intriguing events.

Then there’s a brand-new feature: a world-first VIP sampling of 19th-century Caribbean rums.

The annual blind-tasting rum competition attracts worldwide judges to choose winners in ten different categories, including the coveted World Champion (Martinique’s Rhum Neisson Armada 88 won the title last year.

“This year’s Caribbean Rum Awards in St. Barth will be larger and better than ever,” stated Alexander Britell, editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal and one of the event’s co-founders. “St Barth is a wonderful island that serves as the ideal setting for our celebration of ultra-premium, artisanal rums.”

Whether you’re a longstanding rum aficionado or searching for a unique culinary experience in the Caribbean, it’s an event that’s equally entertaining for neophytes and connoisseurs.

Caribbean Rum Awards

And it’s all based out of Gustavia’s Rhum Room, the world’s best rum bar.

“After two years of Covid-restricted, socially-distanced festivals, we are planning to go all out and have a week of Rum themed events, from Master Classes to cigar Evenings, to an outdoor festival, a cocktail competition, and of course the Tradewind Rum Expo,” said Christopher Davis, global rum expert, proprietor of the Rhum Room and co-founder of the Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth. “There is something for everyone, and certainly rum aficionados will love the elbow-rubbing with world-class distillers, blenders, and ambassadors, all bringing their A-game to St Barth for the 2022 Caribbean Rum Awards and St Barth Rhum Festival.”

“After meeting with representatives from all of the winning companies from last year, there is an undertone of competition and preparation for this year, as well as presenting new and exceptional bottles for everyone to try,” Davis added. “In November, we welcome everyone to sunny St Barth to sample the greatest rum the Caribbean has to offer, whether it’s Ron, Rum, or Rhum.”

Tradewind Aviation, WIMCO Villas, Quarter Kitchen and Cocktail Lab, The Moorings, and Le Barthelemy Hotel and Spa are platinum sponsors of this year’s event.

St Barth Tourism, Davidoff, SC Capital, Empire Social, Global Erudite, and Les Ilets de la Plage, the island’s famed boutique resort, are among the other partners.

Tradewind Aviation co-founder and CMO David Zipkin said, “We are happy and privileged to be the sole aviation partner of the Caribbean Rum Awards St Barth and the Tradewind Rum Expo.” “The festival is the world’s largest celebration of great rum, attracting professionals and aficionados from all over the globe to learn about and enjoy rum on the beautiful island of St Barth, Tradewind’s most popular destination for private and scheduled flights.” “I’m looking forward to another entertaining occasion!”

Tradewind, St Barth’s leading airline, provides scheduled and charter service between San Juan, Puerto Rico, and St Barth.

WIMCO Villas is the official villa supplier this year.

Stiles Bennet, president of WIMCO, remarked, “The first week of November is a fantastic time to visit St Barth.” “The ocean is warm, the island’s restaurants have all recently reopened for the season, and you can take advantage of low season costs whether you stay in a villa or a hotel.” This is a great time to hold the Caribbean Rum Awards. We’re thrilled to be a part of the event for the fourth year in a row, and we urge clients to schedule a vacation to St Bart’s to try artisanal rums they would not have tried otherwise.

For this year’s festival, The Moorings is a new partner, bringing the greatest name in Caribbean yacht rentals and sailing vacations to the French Caribbean hotspot.

“After a challenging few years in which so many on-water and in-person events were canceled, The Moorings is happy to host this unique VIP event in St. Barth with Caribbean Journal this fall,” said Ian Pedersen, senior marketing manager at The Moorings. “It is our desire that events like these showcase the resiliency and beauty of the islands and towns of St. Maarten/St. Martin, St. Barth, and the neighboring Leeward Islands as one of the world’s finest sailing grounds, inviting guests once more.”

This is in addition to Le Barthelemy, St Barth’s leading luxury hotel and the perfect setting for the week’s inaugural event.

If you’re interested in planning a trip to St. Barth for the Caribbean Rum Awards, the event is collaborating with Epic Experiences and its top St. Barth travel adviser, Eva Grodbeg, to create unique holidays for the week (you can find more here).

While the Tradewind Expo is available to the general public, a VIP ticket, which includes all-access to VIP parties and master sessions as well as a private rum tasting, is the ideal way to experience this year’s event. Here you will discover VIP tickets.