The Regional Department for Agriculture and Fisheries, through the Institute of Wine, Embroidery and Handicrafts of Madeira, IP-RAM (IVBAM) organised the 1st Festival of Madeira Rum from 18 to 21 May, in Largo da Restauração. This Festival was attended by several producers of Madeira Rum and other sugar cane derivatives, and it was a unique opportunity for Madeirans and tourists alike to get to know and appreciate this noble product that has been growing in terms of quantity and quality in recent years.
The Festival opened every day at 11.00 am, ending at 8.00 pm on the 18th and 21st, and at midnight on the 19th and 20th of May.
In addition to tasting the region’s rum, there was a focus on a didactic and interactive component, with Madeira Rum Masterclasses led by sommelier Américo Pereira and cocktails with Rum, organised by the Madeira Bartenders’ Association. The timetable for these was as follows:
18, 19, 20 and 21 May at 4.00 pm – Madeira Rums;
18 and 21 May at 7.00 pm- Cocktails with Madeira Rum;
19 and 20 May at 7.00 pm – Madeira Rum and Cigars
The “Rum talk”, scheduled for 5.00 pm, on 20 May, was also a unique opportunity to share experiences and knowledge with international and renowned influential personalities who were visiting the Region at the invitation of IVBAM, such as: Peter Holland, writer, presenter, trainer and consultant for the Spirits Industry and 2011 winner of the Golden Barrel Awards European Rum Blogger of the Year; Thanos Prunarus, founder and editor of Fine Drinking Magazine and organiser of the Athens Rum Fest; Nélson Bernardes, internal spirit consultant for the Hilton Europa group, who writes regularly for magazines such as Imbibe, Class, The Cocktail Lovers, Drinks Business, Time Out Shanghai, Nobless, Billionaire, among others. In addition to being Director of the magazine DrinksDiary®, he provides Bar Consultancy and Training services for Bartenders in Europe, with an emphasis on mainland Portugal, Azores and Madeira, and Thierry Heins, director of the Brussels World Competition – Spirits Selection; creator and coordinator of the Asia Wine & Spirit Forum and Competition – The Silk Route He organises various events related to spirit drinks. Consultant at Vinopres SA.
The following Madeira Rum producing and bottling companies participated in this initiative: Engenho Novo da Madeira, Lda, J. Faria & Filhos, Lda (Engenhos do Norte), Sociedade dos Engenhos da Calheta, Lda. And finally, participating only in the masterclasses, the company Florentino Izildo de Gouveia Ferreira. In addition to these companies, the Madeira Bartenders’ Association, Madeira Cana Drink and the Ribeiro Seco V. Melim Honey Factory were also present.
These promotional actions were co-financed at 85% by community funds, within the Madeira 14-20 Programme, the remainder being borne by the regional budget.
