Nominations for 2012

The Golden Rum Barrel Awards is the first industry award ceremony solely for the rum category. Awards will be given out to the industry people that make the rum category the best spirit category in the world. The Categories for this year's awards are...

Distillery of the Year

An award for the establishment that produce high quality rums, and has provided a service to the promotion of rum making including tours and education over the past year).

Distilerias Unidas S A, (Venezuela)

St. Nicholas Abbey (Barbados)

Angostura Distillery, (Trinidad)

St Lucia Distillery, Roseau Valley, (St. Lucia)


Master Rum Distiller of the Year

An award for the person who embodies the rum category. They not only in charge of producing great spirit but has been actively pushing the boundaries of rum production).

Ricardo Henriquez (Varela Hermanos, Panama)

John Georges (Angostura Distillery, Trinidad)

Larry Warren (St. Nicholas Abbey, Barbados)

Roberto Serralles (Serralles Distillery, Puerto Rico


Master Rum Blender of the Year sponsored by Green Engineering

An award for the master blender who has achieved greatness in the art of rum blending and has been seen to promote this level of creativity to the rum loving public.

Alexandre Gabriel (Plantation Rums, France

Omar Lopez (Oliver & Oliver, Dominican Rep)

Joy Spence (Appleton Rum, Jamaica)

Francisco 'Don Pancho' Fernandez (Zafra 21, Ron De Jeremy, Panama)


Rum Blogger of the Year

The blogger or bloggers who have tirelessly been promoting the rum category to the highest level of the past year on line.

Refined Vices.com

Rum Dood.com

Mountain of crushed ice.com

The Rum collective.com


UK Rum Ambassador of the Year sponsored by Bar Life UK

The ambassador of a rum brand who has devoted their life to promoting rum to the UK market.

BarLifeUK

Shervene Shahbazkhani (Bacardi)

Daniel Dove (Ron Zacapa)

Jamie Macdonald (Appleton Rum)

Miguel Smith, (Mount Gay Rum)


International Rum Ambassador of the Year sponsored by Drink International

The ambassador of a rum brand who has devoted their life to promoting rum to the international market.

Drinks International

Stefanie Holte (El Dorado Rum)

Mario Navarro (Ron Zacapa)

Jim Meehan (Banks 5 Island Rum)

John Georges (Angostura Rum)


Best New Rum (Gold) sponsored by Coco Re’al

The best new gold rum that has set the world alight with its taste, marketing and promotion in 2012.

Coco Re'al

Appleton 50 Year old, Jamaica

Banks 7 Golden Aged Rum

Rhum St Barth Authentic, St Barths

Dos Maderas Luxus Doble Crianza Rum, Spain


Best New Rum (White) sponsored by Coco Re’al

The best new white rum that has set the world alight with its taste, marketing and promotion in 2012.

Coco Re'al

Caliche Rum, Puerto Rico

Plantation 3 Stars, France

Brugal Especial Extra Dry, Dominican Republic

Vizcaya Crystal, Dominican Republic


Best New Rum Package

The award for the most exciting new rum package that raises the bar

Appleton 50 Year Old, Jamaica

Legacy by Angostura, Trinidad

Bacardi de Maestros de Ron, Vintage MMXII Rum , Puerto Rico

Dos Maderas Luxus Doble Crianza Rum, Spain


Boutique RumFest Award for best White rum

The Award for the best tasting rum at the Boutique RumFest, as voted by the trade at the UK RumFest.


Boutique RumFest Award for best Gold rum

The Award for the best tasting rum at the Boutique RumFest, as voted by the trade at the UK RumFest.


The Rum Experience Pioneers Award

Every year The Rum Experience will award two people to join the PIONEERS CLUB. This is a Rum Hall of fame for legends of the rum industry- be they founders; blenders; distillers; bartenders; authors; drinkers or even just rum drinkers.