All set for Jamaica Rum Festival
ROSE HALL, St James – The fourth staging of the Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum Festival is set for its first foray out west this Saturday with an exciting multi-tiered experience including rum tastings, a top-notch line-up of artistes, food and crafts, creating a potpourri of sensory stimulation for patrons in the space.
The event will take place at the Rose Hall Aqueduct in St James.
Earlier this year during the launch of the event, which is presented in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism through its agencies, the Tourism Enhancement Fund and the Jamaica Tourist Board, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said Montego Bay is the ideal location for the event.
The venue is expected to be transformed, from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, with offerings from various stakeholders, including Appleton Estate, Wray & Nephew, Kingston 62, Monymusk, Hampden Estate, and Worthy Park Estate.
Key features of the event will include interactive seminars, demonstrations, entertaining activities, Jamaican cuisine and 45 artisans showcasing their rum-inspired art, food, and crafts. Seminars will be hosted by Master Blender Joy Spence; JWN Academy lecturer Sharmon Hinds; comedian Johnny Daley; senior blender Craig Nicholson; Hampden Estate director Christelle Harris; quality control manager and senior blender, Monymusk Robert Gordon; and mixologist Trevor Luke at various times throughout the day.
The day’s activities will culminate with live performances from some of Jamaica’s premier recording artistes, including Capleton, Sanchez, Romain Virgo and Tessanne Chin.
Fast-rising artistes Sevana, Runkus, D’Burnz, D’Voyce and Kalyra are also billed for the event.
The entertainment package is sponsored by Appleton Estate and is touted as a high point of the event. Festival director Valón Thorpe is expecting good performances from the artistes.
“We owe a big thanks to Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum, without whom this year’s entertainment package wouldn’t be possible. As Jamaicans, we know how seamlessly rum and reggae go together, and we’re looking forward to reminding audiences of this undeniable chemistry come June 25,” said Thorpe.
