ABC Blog - Notes from Wine Country

Location: Blogs Notes from Wine Country
Posted by: Lorena	4/14/2008
Terry Jones, ABC’s Regional Manager for the Venice area stores, was a judge at the 3rd Annual International Rum Festival in Tampa a couple of weeks ago. After he got his notes together, he sent them to us to share. This was Terry’s second year as a judge for the festival. Dori Bryant, the organizer, is sending a CD of pictures and we’ll post a few later. The festival was held March 27-20. Next week, we'll post some highlighted rum choices. Day 1: (Wednesday, March 26^th) the hotel that we (competition judges) have been registered in through Sunday, March 30^th is in the heart of Ybor City and within walking distance of the judging venue, shops, theaters, restaurants and the trolley that runs from Ybor to Channelside (another entertainment district) in downtown Tampa. Wednesday evening we had a cocktail reception for the judges in the courtyard of the hotel. There were three reps (Montecristo Rum and Cigars, Beleza Pura Cachaca and Empire Winery and Distillery T&W) serving Caiprahanas and other cocktails, and cigars were given to all of us. We had a photographer from the St. Pete Times taking pictures during the event. Jack Robertiello, Ian Williams, and Terry Jones. Day 2: (Thursday, March 27^th) First day of judging at the Don Vincente Inn. A renovated hospital that served the community of Ybor and dates back to the 1880’s (it actually was the first HMO in the United States.), it was recently restored and now is a 16 room B&B that has all antique furniture, Peruvian rugs, Victorian-era decorations, and a fabulous restaurant and bar and bistro. We judged 60+ rums on the first day, from light rums through dark, aged up to 8 years, in the morning sessions and dark rums aged 9-15 years and 15+ years in the afternoon sessions. We had lunch delivered to the venue (naturally, in a city with a strong Cuban heritage, Cuban sandwiches were the obvious choice). Harder than it looks … We finished up with barely enough time to get back to the Hotel, as a limo was waiting to whisk us off across Tampa Bay to Clearwater Beach for a special rum dinner at the Island Way Grill (which I have to add, because I am and have been for most of my life, a Tampa Bay Buccaneer season ticket holder and this particular restaurant is partly owned by the most popular player in franchise history, Mike Alstott) and it was simply unbelievable. The event was a fundraiser for the Abilities Foundation, open to the public, and there were probably between 70 and 100 people in attendance. There was a cocktail hour with fantastic finger food, a five course rum dinner that paired rum and fine cuisine (something like a winemaker’s dinner) and a silent auction. Day 3: (Friday, March 28^th) Second and final day of judging at the Don Vincente Inn. We had an incredible number of entries this year (149 to be exact) and Dori said we believe it to be the largest rum competition in North America in HISTORY!!!! So many, in fact, that we judges split up the number of flavored rums on this day so that we could actually get through all the entries without needing a third day of judging. After we had finished judging, there was enough time to relax before the big Rum on the BBQ at world famous Gaspar’s Grotto at 7 pm. Some went back to the hotel for a much needed nap, others lounged out by the pool and some went for a stroll down 7^th Avenue, window shopping and getting a bite to eat at the numerous bars and restaurants. Day 4: (Saturday, March 29^th) Being mostly a free day, most of us slept in, although breakfast was still a priority as it was too good to miss, and the pool beckoned those who were intrigued by the near perfect weather. The annual Italian Festival that blocked off the neighboring streets to the hotel also was an attraction that was simply “too convenient” not to stroll over and see what all the commotion was about. There was the Trade Show at 3pm and the crescendo Main Event at 7pm that included of the rum makers themselves or representatives of the products entered, and the judges who could very well have put them on the road to success. There also was a large contingent of the curious public and serious rum connoisseurs in attendance. A good time was definitely had by all! 2008 Polished Palate International Rum Festival Judges Co-Hosts Robert Plotkin barmedia.com Jack Robertiello onthehouse.typepad.com/ Judges Jerri Banks Consultant, Seminar Host Chris Carlsson SpiritReview.com Rick Crossland Bahama Breeze Restaurants Wayne Curtis republicofrum.com Terry Jones ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Phil Lempert NBC Today Show Louise Owens Dallas Morning News Eric Schiller gasparsgrotto.com Chris Sherman St Petersburg Times Arturo Signinolfi Southern Wine & Spirits Ian Williams rumpundit.net, Seminar Host

Permalink \| Trackback

Comments (0) Add Comment

Your name:
Title:
Comment:

Add Comment Cancel