“Out With The Old (Imbibe), In With The New, BCB London.”
Bar Convent London, in its inaugural year, 2025,
replaced the long running, but somewhat tired, Imbibe.
A new event [to London] and a new venue
The absolutely stiflingly hot Tobacco Dock.
“The New Home of Hospitality” as it is self-titled offered a well-trodden format from around the world (Berlin, Brooklyn, Singapore, São Paulo) in the docks of East London. Over the years, I regularly visited Imbibe. I was very pleased to hear that its time had come to an end in 2024. I looked forward to seeing the new event and venue.
Beyond the impact of an incredibly warm day in London and the glasshouse venue that is Tobacco Dock, there appeared to be much to explore. Within the outer shell of the building, mini event rooms were set-up showcasing what was on offer. These mini rooms did have some air conditioning thankfully. Although I have to admit I felt some pity for the hard working exhibitors, struggling in the heat.
So, from a rum perspective, what was on offer?
No visit to a show such as this would be complete without a chat and tasting with Foursquare / Doorly’s Brand Ambassador, Peter Holland. I believe on this occasion he was officially wearing his Marussia Beverages’ hat. Cue a quick tasting of the new Foursquare Velier “Fidelitas” – a warming 55% ABV that has spent 19 tropical years maturing in ex-Bourbon and a further year in ex-Marsala casks. As is to be expected, it is a stonking tipple.
Another under-the-counter tasting came by way of the Foursquare element of “Triple Entente” – a set from three independent distilleries, showcasing the terroir of their regions. The full set comprises Foursquare (Barbados), Neisson (Martinique), and Hampden (Jamaica). The Foursquare rum is 100% pot still, mostly made from cane juice and is exactly not what you would expect a rum from Barbados to taste like. But it does highlight the versatility that Foursquare’s Richard Seale offers to the rum world.
A quick hop and skip to the other side of the room, lead to a chat with Dean MacGregor (Below, right). Representing Speciality Brands with an advance tasting of the new Black Tot Master Blender’s Reserve 2025. It is built around Guyanese rum, with the addition of Caroni rum, a hint of the 2024 edition and of course, the obligatory original Black Tot “Last Consignment” rum.
As is always the case with the annual Black Tot editions, there is full disclosure regarding the composition of the blend, and of course something that I am always championing, the rum is natural rum with no additives. The rum is 54.5%, limited to just 3,000 bottles, retails around £145 and is available to buy now in time for Black Tot Day, July 31st. Hopefully, I will be reviewing it soon!
One of my favourite Agricole rhums is Montebello from Guadeloupe. I first encountered them a couple of years ago at the Rumfest Trade event and have enjoyed many of their rhums since then. The highlight for me was a tasting of some of their La Rencontre range, which benefits from secondary ageing in different casks. My particular favourite being the Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru finish marrying Guadeloupe rhum with Loire Valley wine casks.
Late on in the day, it was my pleasure to discover the new
British Rum creators DropWorks Distillery.
I met the enigmatic and passionate founder, Lewis Hayes (right in the picture). He talked me through their meticulous rum-making processes. Naturally, a tasting accompanied the chat and although their rums are very young (they started distilling in 2023), their ethos of producing fine rums is already evident. Barrel Drop, their first “aged” rum is their highlight. It will be interesting to taste how the rums develop over the coming years.
DropWorks Distillery
Elsewhere rum-wise, I encountered the very disappointing Blue Mauritius Rum – 40% ABV and not natural i.e. tastes like it is dosed with artificial flavours/sugars. Likewise, India’s Old Monk – so many artificial flavours that you struggle to taste any rum.
Aside from rums, there was plenty of Tequila and Mezcal to discover – doubtless the influence from the US. Agave-based spirits are my second spirit of choice after rum so it made the day even more interesting. Thankfully, the number of vodkas and gins (same thing lol) was far fewer than at Imbibe.
As the first of the big London rum events of 2025, this did not disappoint and it bodes well for the future. Roll on The Whisky Exchange’s Rum Show on July 18th/19th – I will be there on Friday afternoon.
RIP: Diogo Jota, Number 20!
Here is a link to all of my hydrometer tests:
RumShopBoy Hydrometer Tests
Why are rums marked out of 100? Click HERE to read about how I mark a rum.
*
P Denotes the rum contains POT still distillate.
C Denotes the rum contains traditional/Coffey COLUMN still distillate.
B Denotes the rum contains a BLEND of POT and COLUMN still distillate.
M Denotes the rum contains MULTI-COLUMN still distillate or is a MODERN rum.
A Denotes the rum is an AGRICOLE i.e. from Cane Juice.
S Denotes the rum is presented in a SWEETENED style.
Single Blended Rum: A blend of pot still and traditional column still from a single distillery.
Pure Single Rum: 100% Pot Still from a single distillery
Pure Single Agricole Rum: 100% Pot Still from cane juice
Single Blended Rum – A blend of pot still and traditional column still from a single distillery.
Traditional Rum: From a traditional column still.
Modern Rum: From a modern multi column still.
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