RUMS OF PUERTO RICO & PR TOURISM COMPANY CONCOCT A SIZZLING TEAM FOR THE FOOD & WINE CLASSIC IN ASPEN

A perfect blend of rum, flavors, music and folklore represent Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (May 20, 2008)-- For the second consecutive year, Rums of Puerto Rico and the PR Tourism Company unite forces and put together a sizzling team to represent Puerto Rico in one of the nation’s most important events: the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen. Attendees will get a foretaste of what Puerto Rico is all about and automatically be vigorously transported to our Caribbean paradise with a combination of the oh-so-ever contagious rhythms of the “plena”, the succulent and tasty food paired to perfection with world renowned award-winning rums!

The featured Puerto Rican culinary celeb team includes Wilo Benet, chef and owner of Pikayo and Payá and soon-to-open Varita, Robert Treviño, chef and owner of Budatai, Mario Pagan, chef and owner of Chayote and Lemongrass and Carmen González, who at the moment is finishing her first cookbook and is about to open a restaurant in the Big Apple. The well-recognized sommelier Marcos Mercado, will be in charge of the rum tastings, acting as the official “rummelier”. As purveyors of fine rum, part of the elements highlighting its versatility are drinks such as Lavender Tonic with Bacardi Superior, Co-Q-Nut Sling and the ManGotham with Parrot Bay, besides having the typical ice-shaving polaris cart offering rum libations as well. Topping off the great tastes are the beats of the Puerto Rican Orchestra, Rum-bea, which undoubtedly will get thousands of foodies quickly into a party-mode.

Puerto Rican rums are required to be aged a minimum of one year in charred white oak barrels. Gold and dark “anejo” rums must be aged even longer. Aging imparts a smoother, more balanced taste to the spirit, which is what rum connoisseurs truly appreciate.

According to Adams Beverage Group, rum is the second largest spirit category in the U.S. behind vodka. Seventy-five percent of all rums sold in the U.S. come from Puerto Rico, totaling over 15 million cases. Three of the five top selling distilled spirits sold in the U.S. are rums from Puerto Rico: Bacardi, Captain Morgan and Castillo.

“Puerto Rico is the rum capital of the world boasting the highest quality and offering more versatility for mixing than any other spirit, both as an ingredient for cocktails and for cooking. This type of event helps us portray the unique qualities of Puerto Rico both as a rum producer and as a rum destination,“ commented Karen Garnik, chief marketing officer for Rums of Puerto Rico. “Seven out of every 10 bottles of rum sold in the U.S. are from Puerto Rico. Sales in the U.S. from Bacardi and Captain Morgan alone represent three-quarters of all rum sold in the U.S. Puerto Rico is by far the market leader in this spirit category,” she concluded.