The West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers’ Association Inc. (WIRSPA) has launched its official training programme for bartenders and other drinks professionals, part of the international campaign for the Authentic Caribbean Rum Marque, the symbol of authenticity, provenance and quality for rums produced in 15 CARIFORUM countries.
The Authentic Caribbean Rum Certification Programme is an international training initiative for drinks professionals offering training in Europe and North America for hundreds of individuals. The programme includes initial in-depth sessions about the rum category in general and the uniqueness of Authentic Caribbean rum from CARIFORUM in particular.
The Authentic Rum Marque Campaign is part of a CARIFORUM project financed by the European Union, and implemented by WIRSPA.
WIRSPA chairman Frank Ward said: “The launch of this programme is a key step for the Authentic Caribbean Rum Marque in our quest to increase knowledge amongst drinks professionals around the world on the huge diversity and quality of rum from CARIFORUM countries”
There are two levels of the Authentic Caribbean Rum Diploma programme. The initial stage includes high quality training sessions across Europe. Drinks professionals can sign up for training by choosing a date and a city from the calendar available at the Authentic Caribbean Rum portal. Sessions were held in Paris, Milan, Berlin and London this month.
To deliver these sessions, WIRSPA has been utilising international experts, who will educate drinks professionals on the diversity, quality and versatility of rums under the Authentic Caribbean Rum Marque.
The panel visited Caribbean distilleries, met distillers and master blenders and were exposed to the unique processes that create Authentic Caribbean Rums.
Spirits experts on the panel included Bastian Heuser, bartender, beverage consultant freelance writer for Mixology Magazine, and co-founder and managing director of Bar Convent Berlin; Gegoire Erchoff, who has 20 years of bartending Experience in France, Miami and New York; Andrew Nicholls, a world renowned mixologist, presenter at Sipped.tv and co-founder of Barchaeology; Daniele Biondi, founder and CEO of Rum Club Italiano and beverage and spirits consultant.
Other panelists were Miguel Figueredo, writer, consultant and bartender with experience in Spain, Germany, Holland, New York, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic; Alberto Pizarro, head bartender at Bobby Gin Barcelona and Spain’s best bartender in 2011; and Amit Sood, an experienced bartender with wide-ranging international experience in bartender training and consultancy, currently head of professional training at Shaker, London.
Officials involved explained that after attending a first training session and having obtained the diploma, drinks professionals could apply for the full Authentic Caribbean Rum Certification. This would include a one-week training programme with rum producers in the Caribbean.
Additionally, selected trainees will have the chance to visit different distilleries and experience the full rum-making experience. From the sugar cane fields to the glass, the training will cover in depth the fermentation, distillation, ageing and blending processes. (PR/SC)