By the Caribbean Journal staff

Lovers of the best rums in the Caribbean can unite on the French Caribbean island of Martinique next month for the region’s newest, hottest rum festival.

It’s called the Martinique Rhum Awards, and it’s a high-level celebration of both the rhum agricole of the French Caribbean and molasses-based rums from the wider region and the world.

The Martinique Rhum Awards will bring together a panel of rum-expert judges with consumers and rum lovers for a series of events across the island from July 4-7.

Chef Guy Ferdinand.

It’s the brainchild of rum aficionado and proprietor of the world renowned Le Petibonum in the beach town of Le Carbet, Guy Ferdinand, who is putting together the festival with Jerry Gitany and Benoit Bail of France’s The Rum Embassy.

It will kick off July 4 with a special rum tasting evening at the La Case Thai restaurant in Trois Ilets open to the public (with reservations).

Martinique’s Rhum Depaz distillery in Saint Pierre will be the home of the jury.

That will begin a rum-soaked agenda that includes a bartender competition at Ti Sable in Anses d’Arlet; distillery tours and a gala dinner at Trois Ilets’ La Suite Villa.

The event will conclude with an all-day “Rum Village” at Le Petibonum, a large-scale expo and rum tasting festival right on the beach.

La Suite Villa in Trois Ilets.

Naturally, the centerpiece of the festival will be the awards themselves, voted on by a panel of international rum judges tasting rums across 13 categories, from high-proof white rhums to cask-strength aged expressions.

Martinique is the rum capital of the world — and the new festival is a natural fit for what is one of the region’s most fascinating destinations.

For more, contact martinique.rhum.awards@gmail.com.

— CJ