some yummy rum…
an overcast day…
live bands a’playing…
two awesome ladies as my companions for the day…
 |
| We may have been a couple drinks in š |
That about sums up this year’s Summer of Rum Festival.
This year, it was held at the Cuban Club in Ybor — I loved this location; they also had one road blocked off for the food truck vendors to get some action.
As you walked into the festival, you were welcomed by live bands, and multiple venues for some delightful rum concoctions. However, I was rolling VIP, so we made our way to the Cuban Club, and up to the fourth floor.
The fourth floor is where the magic was happening; you were able to taste test a variety of rum — straight & mixed. The floor was completely lined with different brands of rum, all chilled, and ready to be put to the test.
We slurped our way around the tasting floor.
Some of my favorites were:
Naked Turtle Rum Shack
Florida Caribbean DistillersĀ [they use home-grown Florida Cane Sugar. I spokeĀ with one of the originators and he had oodles of knowledge for me, I love that they only use Florida Cane Sugar]
Blue Chair BayĀ [Kenny Chesney’s rum; I tried the Coconut — amazing, but for a lower calorie option, use their Premium Rum]
KoloaĀ [Rum for the Big Island of Hawaii, continuing my trend and tried the Coconut Rum, this one was my fave]
Making our way around the tasting floor,
there were so many flavorful options to pick from.
You could try it
~straight~
~mixed~
~blended withĀ coconut water~
…and even lemonade!
*I loved the setup of the Cuban Club for the tasting and other amenities. The refreshing AC was welcomed and each floor had something different to entice your senses. The first floor had a DJ with dance floor and walk-up mini bars; one flight up was the theater, strategically playing was Pirates of the Caribbean {Jack Sparrow would have enjoy the Summer of Rum Festival!} The tasting floor was the grand finale.
Venturing outside and back out into the music & sunshine action, we made our way to the VIP tent & enjoyed five signature rum cocktails. The crowd favorite was the Appleton Planter’s Punch – a tangy mix of fruit & of course rum!
A variety of musicians made their way across the stage — five different bands carried their tunes into the evening. We took advantage of the Food Truck lineup and other vendors for some extra rum liquid-awesome.
*Overall, an awesome event. The weather was perfect (the sun spared us by being overcast), there was able entertainment, the rum kept a’flowin and was delicious. My only suggestion (which I have already sent their way) was more seating — this would have made it easier to stay longer and enjoy the Food Truck goodness. I felt it was well-organized and my guests & I had an enjoyable time!
Did you miss the fun? There is one more event by Big City Events in December…
The Bourbon & Brew Fest is coming on December 6th! Keep an eye out for upcoming information!
What is your favorite to enjoy Rum?
*As a member of the Tampa Bay Bloggers, I did receive complimentary tickets to the Summer of Rum Festival inĀ exchange for some awesome blog posts and sharing the info for the upcoming festival. All opinions are my own.
Hey, Iām glad youāre here! Iām Caitlyn, a Tampa native with a love for all things social media, travel & tattoos. Itās no secret that I have a passion for social media - Iāve been at it for 11+ years! When I am not too busy supporting local companies as an SMM, I love to share foodie spots in Tampa and tips for your next Disney trip.
Sandwich Gal
Every once in awhile I love a Rum Runner, preferably at the beach.
Jennifer Pug Pug
I am an equal opportunity rum-lover. It doesn't love me quite as much, but I am always down for a mojito.
Looks like an incredibly fun event!