1970s-inspired West Hampstead bar Bobby Fitzpatrick is bringing back its Rum Off competition for 2019.
Following on from its successful launch last year, the competitive and interactive cocktail-making series is inviting sixteen rum brands to compete in the “ultimate rum battle”.
Kicking off in May and running until November, the competition presents a number of cocktail-making rounds, or heats, where each participating brand will put forward a bartender to create an imaginative bespoke cocktail to serve to the voting public.
Last year, Plantation Rum won the Rum Off. Now the team are back to defend their title, battling against Havana Club, The Real McCoy, Gosling’s, Skipper, Pusser’s, Westerhall Estate, Doorly’s, Plantation, Appleton Estate, Don Q, Cargo Cult, Bayou, Embargo, Sailor Jerry, Copalli Rum and Ron Zacpa.
Alessandro Paludet, group bar manager of Urban Leisure Group, said: “Rum is definitely enjoying growth, and in the last couple of years, London has welcomed more dedicated ‘rum bars’.
“It’s a fascinating and interesting spirit, and the aim of the Rum Off is to introduce more people to the category and showcase its potential.
This year is going to be twice as exciting! We have doubled the competitors and included classic, well-established brands as well as new rums that have yet to land in the UK market.”
