International Rum Championship

On March 27-29, almost 148 sugar-cane based spirits were judged at the 3rd Annual Polished Palate International Rum Festival. Held at the Don Vicente Inn, in the heart of Ybor City, Tampa, this event is the only only such recognized competition for sugar cane-based spirits in the United States. Besides the rum competition, the festival included a dinner and rum tasting on the 27th, the Rum on the Bar B (Q) dinner on the 28th, and the grand tasting on the 29th.

The rums were divided into several categories whereas the cachacas where divided into three categories. Several spirits that we tasted at this year's South Beach Food & Wine Festival did quite well. The Moleca Double Distilled Cachaca won Gold in the Unaged Cachaca category and the Moleca Double Distilled Gold Cachaca won a Silver in the Aged Cacahaca category. The Vizcaya VXOP Cask 21 Rum won Gold in the Dark Rum category; the Ron Barcelo Imperial Rum won Best in Category for Rum Aged Less Than 8 Years, and the Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Rum won Best in Category in the Rum Aged 9-15 Years. Here are the results for categories that included a Best of Category:

• White Rum: Mount Gay Eclipse Silver Rum
• Dark Rum: Temptryst Reserve Rum
• Rum Aged Up To 8 Years: Ron Barcelo Imperial Rum
• Rum Aged Up To 9-15 Years: Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva Rum & Pyrat XO Reserve Rum
• Rum Aged +15 Years: Ron Millonario Solera Reserva Especial & Ron Zacapa 23
• Rum Liqueres/Cream: Santa Teresa Rhum Orange Liqueur & Santa Teresa Araku Ron Y Coffee Liquer
• Spiced Rum: Montecristo Spiced Rum
• Aged Rhum Agricole: J.M. V.S.O.P Rhum & Madras Rhum
• Rhum Agricole Liqueur: Madreas Prune Liquer
• Flavored Cachaca: Ypioca Red Fruit Cachaca