Above image: Rum Bellion 2019
After a rousing first edition held in 2019, Singapore’s one and only festival dedicated to rum, Rum Bellion, is finally making a return now that pandemic restrictions are (mostly) lifted.
Once again happening at hip and happening Keong Saik Road, the festival proper is set to take place at Heart of Darkness Singapore (and the street outside) come Sunday June 5, 2022, with the days of June 3-4 leading up to it set aside for fringe activities.
The actual festival day will see the street come alive with DJ sets, tattoo artists, and face painters doing what they do best, all while over 30 rum brands (the likes of Chalong Bay, Doorly’s, and Equiano) with over 60 expressions vie for your attention.
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Expect the city’s top rum bars to be participating at the event, with bartenders from the likes of Low Tide, The Bar at 15 Stamford, and Origin mixing up cocktails, alongside showings from regional establishments like Jungle Bird from Kuala Lumpur, Teens of Thailand from Bangkok, and Buccaneers Rum & Kitchen from the Philippines.
Heart of Darkness Singapore will also be tapping special beers inspired by popular rum cocktails. Just imagine having a Daiquiri, Pina Colada, or Mojito, but in beer form. We’re not entirely sure how this works, so the only way to find out is to try it for yourself at the festival.
Rum brand Plantation is also taking the opportunity to showcase their new 22-year-old limited-edition Plantation Single Cask 2021 Jamaica 1998. This special rum was distilled at Long Pond Distillery in 1998, then aged for 20 years in Bourbon casks, before being matured for another 2 years in Ferrand casks, then finally finished for 10 months in Bardstown Fusion Series Bourbon casks.
Only 126 bottles of the Plantation Single Cask 2021 Jamaica 1998 are allocated for the entire Asia Pacific market, and Singapore is set to be the first to launch the sought-after bottling in the region during Rum Bellion 2022.
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As for the Friday and Saturday leading up to the festival day, guest shifts at prominent rum watering holes around town are in order. Scotty Schuder from Paris’ Dirty Dick will be taking over the bar at The Kongsee on June 3, while Francesco from Bangkok’s House of Sathorn will be shaking things up at Lime House Caribbean on June 4, among several other bar takeovers.
There’s lots more happening. So head on over to Rum Bellion’s Facebook page for more information and updates.
Rum Bellion 2022 takes place at Heart of Darkness Singapore, located at 1 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089109. Drink dockets are available at $12 each during event day.