SEMINAR AGENDA
9:00 - 11:00 | Registration + Cocktails
Brief: Morning Registration for Day 1 of the 2025 Miami Rum Congress.
Cocktails: SPIRIBAM will be sponsoring the morning rum bar session with delicious cocktails.
10:00 - 10:45 | Rhum Liqueurs: From Tradition to Modernity
Brief: Commencing the 2025 Miami Rum Congress, join Audrey Bruisson (Spiribam, Global Marketing Director), Jen Akin (Spiribam, Brand Advocacy Coordinator), Daniele Dalla Pola (Tiki Mixologist, Rum Enthusiast, and Co-Founder of Alamea Liqueur), and Garnett Phillip as they touch on the history and tradition of liqueurs, their production methods, and how they may be used in cocktails.
11:00 - 11:45 | Rum Revealed (Park Street)
Brief: Understanding Category Trends: Dive deep into rum’s evolving landscape with our expert panel as they unpack market data and trends. Discover how consumer preferences and trade dynamics have transformed the category. Our panelists will share exclusive insights on premiumization trends, market performance metrics, and the key factors driving rum’s sales in both on- and off-premise channels.
12:00 - 12:45 | Rum's Next Chapter (Park Street)
Brief: Forecasting 2025 & Beyond As the spirits industry evolves, what’s next for rum? Our forward-looking session brings together category leaders to explore emerging opportunities and predict tomorrow’s trends. Panelists will discuss anticipated shifts in consumer behavior, untapped market segments, and strategic recommendations for capitalizing on rum’s potential in 2025.
13:00 - 13:45 | Independent Bottlers - Behind the Scenes
Brief: Independent rum bottlers offer rum enthusiasts access to unique and bespoke rums that are often unknown to the general public. However, their role extends beyond the mere selection of exquisite rums, and they may not always guarantee financial rewards. In this session, we will delve into the inner workings of some of today’s most prominent independent bottler brands, exploring their significant contributions to the rum ecosystem.
13:45 - 14:45 | Lunch + Cocktails | Bar Transition
Brief: Lunch Break for Day 1 of the 2025 Miami Rum Congress.
Cocktails: Maisson Ferrand will be sponsoring the afternoon rum bar session with delicious cocktails.
15:00 - 15:45 | Give Rum a Shot - Tales from Brand Ambassadors & Trenches
Brief: Rum boasts a vibrant community of passionate enthusiasts, and their numbers continue to grow. However, outside these circles, many people hold misconceptions about rum and are hesitant to take it seriously. In this session, some of today’s most experienced brand ambassadors will share their insights and experiences in breaking down barriers to recognizing rum as a first-class spirit.
16:00 - 16:45 | Rum and Social Media / IM
Brief: The digital world is buzzing, evolving faster than the latest viral trend. Consumers and brands are connecting daily through social media and instant messaging—making decisions, discovering new ideas, and promoting the hottest products or services. But let’s not forget: just like a good cocktail, this fast-paced mix needs the right guardrails to keep it balanced and ensure everything flows smoothly!
17:00 - 17:45 | Reexamining Golden Era Rums of the Mai Tai, Mai Kai, and Beyond
Brief: While tropical drink enthusiasts revere and seek out the classic rums of the early to mid-20th century, recent discoveries suggest that some long-held assumptions about those rums may be incorrect. In this session, several renowned rum historians and writers will review these findings in a modern context.
17:45 - 18:30 | Break + Cocktails by Maison Ferrand
Brief: Conclusion to Rum Congress & intermediate break before The Ultimate Awards
Cocktails: Maison Ferrand will be sponsoring the Afternoon & Evening rum bar session with delicious cocktails.
18:30 - 20:00 | The Ultimate Awards
Brief: The Ultimate Awards recognizes the best of the best in the rum industry.
10:25 - 10:55 | Registro: Congreso de Ron
Brief: Registration for Congreso de Ron
10:55 | Eminencias del Ron
Brief: Durante el desarrollo de esta enriquecedora charla, tendremos la valiosa oportunidad de escuchar detenidamente las interesantes reflexiones y dialogar de manera profunda y enriquecedora con reconocidas eminencias en el fascinante mundo de la categoría del ron. Esta será una excelente oportunidad para adentrarse en el estudio de su fascinante historia y sus impresionantes logros a lo largo de los años.
11:55 | Dulce Escape: Ron y Delicias del Caribe
Brief: Ingrese al dinámico piso de degustación y deleitarse en un intercambio privado de ron y dulces. Experimente la armonía de los finos rones y las delicias caribeñas. Esta sesión exclusiva proporciona una oportunidad inigualable para degustar sabores exquisitos y explorar nuevas dimensiones en su apreciación del ron.
12:55 | Notas de Elegancia
Brief: El objetivo principal de esta charla es compartir con la audiencia el rol de la mujer en la creación de un ron, desde la elaboración de un blend hasta la definición del perfil organoléptico.
1:30 - 7:00 | VIP Rum Experts Session
Brief: Registration and Session for VIP Rum Experts
2:00 - 3:30 | Industry Trade Session
Brief: Registration and Session for Industry Trade Professionals
3:00 - 7:00 | VIP Rum Enthusiastics Session
Brief: Registration and Session for VIP Rum Enthusiastics
4:00 - 7:00 | Intro to Rum - General Admission Session
Brief: Registration and Session for Intro to Rum – General Admission
4:30 | What am I, rum or aguardiente, or all of the above?
Brief: It is said that the word “aguardiente” originated with the colonizing Spanish when they brought distillation practices to the new world and many times used this word prior to the official word “rum.” Today, aguardiente varies per country and product. Let’s hear and learn from companies that, as of today, continue using the word aguardiente for their distilled spirit.
5:00 - 7:00 | DaquiriMANIA - General Admission Session
Brief: Registration and Session for DaiquiriMANIA – General Admission
5:30 | Barbados Rum Canvas: A Palette of Flavors
Brief: Uncover the true essence of Barbados rum: a harmonious marriage of column and pot still. The island’s diverse distilling methods – from a myriad of vintage pot still styles and modern column stills – create a rich palette of rums. Learn how master blender Alexandre Gabriel and master distiller Don Benn expertly combine these unique expressions, much like a painter selects and blends colors, to craft rum masterpieces. This seminar will delve into the artistry of rum blending while giving the audience a chance to craft their own.
