Seminar Agenda
10:00 - 10:30AM | Registration
Brief: Morning Registration for the 2025 NY Rum Conference. Limited capacity.
5:00 to 5:45PM | DUNDERSTRUCK: Hampden Estate Past, Present & Future
Brief: Join LM&V’s for an in depth tasting of Hampden Estate. Due to the history and unique production methods, Hampden Estate produces rums like nowhere else with iconic flavors that are unique in the world of spirits. Discover the magic and mystery of Trelawny Rum.
6:00 to 6:45PM | Different Rums, Different Drinks - The Evolution of Rum in Exotic Cocktails
Brief: Rum cocktails have never stood still. Over the last 100 years we’ve seen the rums used in iconic recipes change and evolve, sometimes for the better, and often for the worse. Why is that?
Sometimes it’s down to cost, sometimes it’s taste, and sometimes it’s pure availability. In this seminar, we’ll explore how rum blends in cocktails have shifted over time—through tiki classics, modern bar programs, and brand-led menu placements. We’ll look at whether modern day tiki cocktails can ever stand up to their historic rum counterparts, and whether the rum choices we make today will be as revered in 100 years as their predecessors.
Together with Sean Cork (Caña Rum Bar) and Fede Hernandez (RumLab & US Rum Congress), Mitch Wilson (Global Ambassador, Black Tot Rum) will lead a conversation on the forces shaping the rums we taste in cocktails today, and how bartenders can reclaim the spirit of blending behind the bar.
7:00 to 7:45PM | Legends of the Swizzle Stick
Brief: Come along with Edward Raynolds from Angostura Rum as he shares the fascinating history of the beloved Swizzle Stick — its roots, its role, and how to swirl your way to the perfect drink.
