![\"California](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/California-Rum-Fest-2026.jpg\")
California Rum Fest returns to the home of the original Mai Tai this September<\/p>\nThe Rum Lab\u2019s California Rum Festival will return to Trader Vic\u2019s in Emeryville, San Francisco, on 19-20 September.<\/p>\n
California Rum Fest returns to the home of the original Mai Tai this September<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s festival will return to a unified format, bringing together northern and southern California rum enthusiasts under one banner.<\/p>\n
The event will once again be hosted at Trader Vic\u2019s in Emeryville, \u2018the birthplace of tiki culture\u2019 and home of the original Mai Tai cocktail.<\/p>\n
A fitting setting for the festival, California is reportedly the second-largest market<\/a> for rum consumption in the US.<\/p>\n The 2026 edition will unite brand founders, master distillers, trade professionals, and enthusiastic consumers for two days of tastings, industry networking, and in-depth masterclasses led by global rum experts.<\/p>\n Federico J Hern\u00e1ndez, founder of The Rum Lab<\/a>, commented: \u201cReuniting our California footprint under the unified California Rum Festival banner brings us back to the heart of what this community is all about.<\/p>\n \u201cSan Francisco has always been an epicentre of cocktail heritage. Bringing together elite independent bottlers, rare single-cask drops, and visionary producers at Trader Vic\u2019s gives both industry veterans and curious drinkers an unrivalled look at where rum is headed next.\u201d<\/p>\n Alongside hundreds of rum expressions available for tasting throughout the festival, the educational congress offers an exclusive lineup of seminars, rare pours, and panel discussions.<\/p>\n On Saturday, 19 September, the agenda includes three masterclasses. \u2018When In Rhum\u2019, hosted by Kate Perry from La Maison & Velier, will be followed by a session \u2018Independent Bottlers: Small to Large Scale\u2019 with founder of Helmsman Imports<\/a> Jeff Diego, founder of Mainland Rum, Seth Benhaim, and Rafael Rodriguez from Rum Dos Maderas.<\/p>\n The first day will close with a masterclass, \u2018Aguardiente: An Undiscovered Spirit\u2019, with Ricardo March, founder of Bacan Guaro.<\/p>\n Sunday\u2019s conference includes five sessions, including \u2018North American Rum Spotlight\u2019, hosted by Benhaim and founder of Superlative Spirits Ryan Gilbertie, and \u2018Planteray Extreme Series VI: The Legends of Rum\u2019 with Adrienne Stoner from Maison Ferrand<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tickets for the California Rum Fest are now available on the event\u2019s website.<\/p>\n Ticket tiers include Industry Trade Session, VIP Rum Experts, VIP Rum Enthusiasts, and General Admission.<\/p>\n Related news<\/p>\n \n \n
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