{"id":37730,"date":"2026-02-03T12:31:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T17:31:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/?p=37730"},"modified":"2026-03-05T19:31:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T00:31:45","slug":"miami-rum-congress-expands-to-include-more-events-and-spirited-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/2026\/02\/03\/miami-rum-congress-expands-to-include-more-events-and-spirited-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Miami Rum Congress expands to include more events and spirited education"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated Feb. 14<\/em><\/p>\n

Since launching in 2019, Miami Rum Congress<\/a> has strategically expanded from its humble beginnings, moving from a small event center to a resort beachside hotel, then to the state-of-the-art Miami Beach Convention Center in 2024. The festival continues to grow and add related activities and days, culminating this year with the first Rhum Week Miami,<\/a> running Thursday through Monday, Feb. 5-9.
\nJump below: <\/strong> Pre-party, seminar at the Mai-Kai<\/a> | Rum Congress highlights<\/a>
\n• Tiki Master Cocktail Competition<\/a> | More rum events<\/a>
\nSocial media coverage: Photos, video from Miami Rum Congress and related events<\/a><\/strong> UPDATED<\/B> <\/FONT><\/p>\n

\"Miami<\/a><\/p>\n

Miami Rum Congress 2026<\/a> – Feb. 6-8 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.<\/a><\/strong>
\n• Quick links: Tickets<\/a> | Overview, FAQ<\/a> | Speakers & special guests<\/a> | Rum 101<\/a><\/p>\n

More than 600 rum producers, bartenders, brands and enthusiasts are expected for the seventh annual event organized by Federico Hernandez and The Rum Lab,<\/a> which also produces events in Puerto Rico, Chicago, New York, and elsewhere around the U.S. and Europe. [Past event photos]<\/a> The Rhum Week schedule includes events from Fort Lauderdale to Key Biscayne, allowing more people to get a taste of great rums and cocktails from some of the industry’s top brands and VIPs.<\/p>\n

The centerpiece remains the official Rum Congress seminars on Friday and “Grand Tasting” on Saturday at the convention center in the heart of South Beach. Experts from around the world will participate in eight seminars, while the tasting rooms will feature more than 85 brands offering samples of some 200 distinct rum expressions, available neat and in a “Twisted Daiquiri.”<\/p>\n

\"Rhum<\/a>
Rhum Barbancourt (Haiti) and Rhum Clement (Martinique) were two of many brands participating in last year’s Miami Rum Congress. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward \/ Feb. 1, 2025)<\/figcaption><\/figure> <\/a><\/p>\n

Mai-Kai pre-party to include seminar, rare Tahiti rum release<\/h2>\n

Rhum Week activities kick off Thursday (Feb. 5) at the historic Mai-Kai <\/a> in Oakland Park, northwest of Fort Lauderdale. The restaurant’s Bora Bora and Molokai bars will host the South Seas Soiree, presented by the Florida Rum Society<\/a> in association with Planteray Rum<\/a>. The event will feature a talk by master blender Alexandre Gabriel along with complimentary tastings.<\/p>\n

The rum society will also celebrate a special new release, produced by Down Island Spirits<\/a> and sourced from Tahiti. It’s the perfect location to launch the Maiden Voyage expression, believed to be the first Tahitian single barrel rum ever sold in the United States. The Mai-Kai’s founding Thornton family has deep ties to Tahiti. The 69-year-old Tiki temple features artwork from the Pacific island, plus authentic music and dance as part of the nightly Polynesian Islander Revue,<\/a> the oldest continually-running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States (including Hawaii).<\/p>\n

\"Miami<\/a><\/p>\n

Gabriel will discuss “the technical secrets behind the blends designed to match the high-octane energy of the Mai-Kai\u2019s iconic cocktail program while meeting the exacting needs of the modern drink-smith,” according to an event invitation. Guests will also get a taste of Planteray’s Mister Fogg Sail No. 2<\/a>, an inventive new blend that follows the historic methods of Britain’s Royal Navy rum.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Also on hand will be guest bartenders from Hidden Harbor<\/a> in Pittsburgh. You can pick up a bottle with the purchase of the exclusive Tahitian Shark Bite cocktail, while supplies last. Click here to reserve a seat<\/a> for Gabriel’s talk at 4 p.m. in the Molokai. The rum tastings and happy hour event that takes place in both bars is open to the public, no reservation necessary.<\/p>\n

The Florida Rum Society<\/a> is stepping up its involvement in Miami Rum Congress events in 2026. In addition to the South Seas Soiree, the group will host two events not far from the main events on South Beach. On Friday, “Four on the Floor Tiki Disco” at Chisme in The Tony Hotel is sponsored by Spiribam<\/a> and Holmes Cay Rum<\/a>. On Saturday, “A Worthy Final Pour” with Jamaica’s Worthy Park takes over Sweet Liberty. Both start at 8 p.m. The group’s leader, Jay Cocorullo<\/a>, will also participate in a seminar on Friday, Feb. 6, on the next generation of rum consumers. <\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Representatives from Black Tot, Copalli, and Tanduay greet guests during the Grand Tasting at Miami Rum Congress. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward \/ Feb. 1, 2025)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Below are just some of the many events happening throughout Rhum Week Miami and Miami Rum Congress. Check MiamiRumCongress.com<\/a> for the full schedule and more information.<\/p>\n

Miami Rum Congress highlights<\/h2>\n

Thursday, Feb. 5<\/h3>\n

4 p.m. – South Seas Soiree at the Mai-Kai in Oakland Park. [See details above]<\/a><\/p>\n

8:30 p.m. – Welcome cocktail party at Cafe La Trova<\/a> in Little Havana.<\/p>\n

\"Miami<\/p>\n

Friday, Feb. 6<\/h3>\n

Events at the Miami Beach Convention Center:<\/em><\/p>\n

11 a.m. – Seminar: The Next Rum Consumer: Demystifying Gen Z, RTDs, and More<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Noon – Seminar: Boom, Bust, and Rebirth: Cycles in Distilled Spirits<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Miami<\/p>\n

4 p.m. – Seminar: Beyond Tropical: New Rums Redefining the Category’s Role In Cocktails<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

5 p.m. – Seminar: Miami\u2019s Next-Wave Rum Drink Trends<\/em>.<\/p>\n

6:30 p.m. – The Ultimate Awards,<\/a> recognizing the best in the rum industry. Winners will be announced in the Ultimate Sipping Rum \u2013 Miami Blind Tasting Competition<\/a>.<\/p>\n

• See the full Friday-Saturday schedule<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Manager<\/a>
Manager Billy Dala Polla mixes up cocktails with Planteray’s Mister Fogg Navy Rum at Miami’s Kaona Room after the Miami Rum Festival in November 2024. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Evening event in Miami:<\/em><\/p>\n

6:30 p.m. – The Navy Rum Summit at Kaona Room,<\/a> an “ultra-exclusive” exploration of 18th century Royal Navy Rum with Alexandre Gabriel (master blender of Planteray’s and Mister Fogg Navy Rum<\/a>) and Matt Pietrek (Modern Caribbean Rum<\/a><\/em> author and Wonk Press<\/a> publisher). The pair co-wrote the new book, The Rum Never Sets<\/a><\/em>. The evening will be hosted by Kaona Room owner and Tiki cocktail maestro Daniele Dalla Pola<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Saturday, Feb. 7<\/h3>\n

Events at the Miami Beach Convention Center:<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Daniele<\/a>
Daniele Dalla Pola of Miami’s Kaona Room represented Voyage Rum at last year’s Grand Tasting at Miami Rum Congress. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward \/ Feb. 1, 2025)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. – Grand Tasting<\/strong> at the Miami Beach Convention Center featuring hundreds of rum and cocktail samples. Includes four sessions for VIPs, industry, and general public.<\/p>\n

3:30 p.m. – Seminar: Planteray Extreme Series VI – The Legends of Rum<\/em> with Alexandre Gabriel and Adrienne Stoner.<\/p>\n

TBA – The Great Blind Taste Off with John Gulla, co-host of The Rumcast<\/a>. Compete and win prizes.<\/p>\n

TBA – DaiquiriMANIA PopUp, a celebration of the classic cocktail, reimagined with a modern twist.<\/p>\n

\"Miami<\/p>\n

Sunday, Feb. 8<\/h3>\n

1 p.m. – 5 p.m. – Industry Sunday Soiree at Gramps Getaway on Key Biscayne featuring music and cocktails, plus celebrity bartenders.<\/p>\n

Monday, Feb. 9<\/h3>\n

6 p.m. – Cantineros Games, a cocktail competition influenced by traditional Cuban drinks culture and hosted by Chelotiki<\/a> at Odd Birds in Little Havana.<\/p>\n

More from The Rum Lab<\/B><\/FONT>
\n• Miami Rum Congress 2026 is almost here: What to expect<\/a>
\n• The best rum bars in Miami<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n