IAN WILLIAMS
Author/Correspondent

Ian Williams is author of ‘Rum: A Social and Sociable History of the Real Spirit of 1776’. This often rollicking page-turner, quite an achievement for a non-fiction ‘thriller’, traces the root of all rums (rhums, cachacas, aguardientes) from the first planting of sugar cane.

Rum: The Spirit of the Caribbean Past and Future

Ian Williams describes his subject as the "Global Spirit with its warm beating heart in the  Caribbean." Williams traces the uniquely Caribbean origins of rum, "the common factor for the whole region, Spanish, Portuguese,  English,  French, Dutch or Papiamento-speaking." He also considers  fine rum to be an integral part of any successful branding of  the  Caribbean tourism product. With proper care visitors, along with  emigrant communities, should build a robust export industry, which at  the same time should reinforce tourism. "A sip of liquid sunshine on  a cold northern winter night should have people thinking about  heading to their travel agent as soon as possible," he asserts, while  insisting that the history of almost four centuries of rum, with all  its connotations, are indispensable for creating the premium image 
for the product.

Sponsored By El Dorado Rums

JERRI BANKS 

Industry Consultant  

Jerri Banks has translated her considerable experience in both restaurant operations and the beverage industry to develop a full-service consulting concern offering expertise in all areas of opening and running bar/restaurant venues including concept creation, site selection and project management as well as development of creative beverage programs and on site operations. She has developed extensive inventory management and inventory/cost control programs in addition to comprehensive training manuals and physical plant management systems.

RUM MIXOLOGY SESSION (DETAILS TO COME)

SPONSORED BY MADRAS RHUMS