A selection of Appleton rums. - photo by Rosemary Parkinson The international appeal of Appleton Estate will be one of the over 17 rums that will be showcased at Pirate's Gold: Rums of the Caribbean which is slated to be a massive and exclusive rum expo scheduled April 20 -21 at Devon House in Kingston.
More than 17 local and Caribbean rums from Jamaica, Barbados, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Lucia, Guyana and Puerto Rico have been confirmed for this event. According to event organiser Barrington Bucknor, more rum brands are showing keen interest. "Several are already confirming their attendance for next year's event. There is a definite buzz and we anticipate that it will position Jamaica as a premier culinary tourism destination. It will also become a calendar event."
The two-day Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), endorsed event will commence with a by-invitation-only welcome cocktail reception for brand officials, local distributors, bar owners, restaurateurs, club owners and others.
Feted Caribbean style
They will be fted in true 'Pirates of the Caribbean style in the main hall of the Devon House Great House. On Saturday, April 21, the Devon House Grogg Shoppe and its immediate environs will be transformed into a Pirates' Village complete with gambling dens, cigar rooms, bars, rum displays, indoor and outdoor dining with pirates and wenches augmenting the august and time honoured adventure.
In addition to promoting Caribbean rums, the Pirate's Gold - Rums of the Caribbean Expo will feature rum tasting, food displays and food demonstrations, flair bartending from Jamaica's finest showtenders, bird displays (what's a pirate without a parrot), art and craft booths as well as top quality entertainment from Ashe, Dwight Richards, and others. Sources close to the event have disclosed that negotiations are under way with Trinidad-based band - The Windies - featuring cricket great - Curtly Ambrose.
Gates will open on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and patrons will be admitted free of cost. Sampling bands will be on sale for $300 should patrons wish to sample rums and/or food.
