Attendance exceeded our goals. Our final tally was 576 tickets for the Grand Tasting Event, 292 VIPs and 98 media specialists. 212 upscale guests of the Shore Club Resort participated in the Grand Tasting event for a total of 1178 participants, along with 100 exhibitor personnel at the event.

Media coverage was extensive. Starting with two full pages in the Miami Herald on the cover of the lifestyle section, we also placed more than a dozen large print ads, ran dozens of television commercials, and produced 16 live television and radio interviews on morning shows across the country promoting Rum Renaissance and the booming surge in rum's popularity.

Online presence was overwhelming. There were many dozens of blog entries, interactive contests and promotions -- and email blasts to more than 30,000 targeted consumers. Rum bloggers came from as far away as London, Rome, Jamaica, California, New Orleans and New York. Local media was completely saturated with event coverage as the word spread throughout the social media networking community in South Florida.

VIPs were delighted. Several hundred very important persons came to Miami Rum Renaissance from all over the world to enjoy the myriad VIP Parties around town at some of the finest bars, restaurants and nightclubs in South Florida. Mixologists, bartenders, store owners, managers and buyers were among those discovering more than 100 fine cane spirit products at the show. The master blenders and distillers, the brand ambassadors, the judges and pundits rubbed shoulders with rum enthusiasts from near and far.

Rum variety was astounding. Spirits from virtually every rum producing country in the Western Hemisphere were savored -- from the most notable birthplaces of classic cane spirits -- inspired by their unique cultures, tropical locations and exotic influences.

The setting was ideal. The Shore Club Resort's Red Room Garden, the Red Room Night Club and the poolside private bungalows provided rum companies with lush, tropical settings in which to display and serve their brands, the perfect context for reflecting the easy-going, fun-loving nature of our rum enthusiast lifestyle.

American Rums were well represented. Attendees were treated to some hard-to-find gems made in the United States. We'll be keeping our eye on these up-and-coming brands produced by some very talented and passionate teams across the USA.

Truly, rum is enjoying a renaissance. More than one thousand people left the Rum Renaissance events with a new-found enthusiasm and understanding of the noble spirit of the new world. They are proclaiming their discovery and delight to their friends and family far and wide, as newly appointed rum ambassadors, set off on their own further discovery of the fascinating world of rums.

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Miami Herald Cover of Tropical Living Section

New Times Photos

New Tmes Article

New Times Blog

Flickr Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thatnimrod/