Masterclasses – Monday, April 20, 2026

(In progress)

11.00 am – Crossfire

By Ian Burrell, Global rum Ambassador

This immersive masterclass invites you to discover the diversity and unity of Jamaica’s legendary rum-making tradition. Set off to explore the island’s six legendary distilleries — Appleton Estate, Clarendon, Hampden Estate, Long Pond, New Yarmouth and Worthy Park — and understand why their Geographical Indication (GI) is the key to an authentic terroir.

Learn about the local classification system, from the Common Clean style to the famous Heavy Continental, and explore the full aromatic spectrum of the legendary Jamaican ‘funk’ through guided tastings. As a highlight, take part in the very first tasting of Crossfire Hurricane rum, a unique blend combining spirits from all the island’s major producers.

Tasting: Crossfire Hurricane Reserve, Crossfire Hurricane Gold

3.00 pm​ – Stade’s Rum

Fermentation Reinvented: at the heart of the experiments at Stade’s West Indies Rum Distillery

Par Alexandre Gabriel est le créateur et master blender des rhums Planteray, et le propriétaire de la Stade’s West Indies Rum Distillery à la Barbade.

You will discover the principles behind bespoke fermentation, which has become a true hallmark of the distillery. The session will also reveal the secrets behind the creation of high-ester rums, produced through prolonged and meticulously controlled fermentation processes.

Combining science, intuition and heritage, this session reveals a new dimension of rum — a rare glimpse behind the scenes of research and development in Barbados. An unmissable experience to understand the future of rum through fermentation, concluding with an unforgettable tasting.

4.00 pm – IGs rum

IG rum: Why do they exist, who defines them, and how do they differ from country to country?

By Matt Pietrek , rum expert and author, founder of the Rum Wonk platform.

Geographical Indications (GIs) are a hot topic in today’s rum industry. However, there is a great deal of confusion surrounding them. What exactly does a GI protect? Who defines a country’s GI? Which countries have GIs? And do these designations restrict rum producers’ freedom of action? During this session, presented in English, you will discover how GIs are defined and how they work in practice. You will also see that the content of a GI — what it includes or excludes — speaks volumes about what a country’s rum producers consider to be the very essence of their products.

Please note: to attend the masterclasses (free of charge), you must first have entered the exhibition and therefore hold a ticket. The Monday masterclasses are reserved for industry professionals.