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Friarwood celebrates Venezuela with Ron Carúpano
Wine and spirits merchant Friarwood hosted a rum tasting for Ron Carúpano, which also doubled as a celebration of Venezuelan culture.
Held on 28 November in London, the event was hosted in collaboration with charity Coromoto 2020, who help families in Venezuela with food and educational support.
The event saw Friarwood’s spirits portfolio manager, Nelson Bernardes, and spirits ambassador Stephen Jimba host a guided Ron Carúpano tasting, which was highlighted by a sampling of the rum’s Reserva Limitada expression.
The special ritual for this saw guests taste the rum after biting into a lime wedge coated with half panela sugar and half Piuaroma Venezuelan cacao.
Ben Carfagnini, managing director at Friarwood, said: “This event was a celebration of culture, flavours, but most importantly a testament to our commitment to the Venezuelan community in the UK.
“We at Friarwood are proud to support a brand that excels in rum craftsmanship and plays a crucial role in uplifting Venezuelan families.”
The evening also included Venezuelan food from chef Pedro López, who prepared some of the country’s classic dishes such as tequeños, cachapas and empanadas.
And beyond food and drink, the companies also discussed social initiatives for Venezuelan communities, as well as sharing ideas on how to preserve the environment around the country.
A presentation from charity organiser Thamara Lxer – who has fundraising experience in the Venezuelan rum industry – capped off the evening. She was said to have ‘emphasised Ron Carúpano’s tangible impact in benefitting local communities’ along with her work with Coromoto 2020, which provides essential food parcels and educational support to struggling Venezuelan families.
Friarwood also hopes that the evening signals the start of future collaborations with Coromoto 2020 in the UK, to support their beneficiaries.
Ron Carúpano is just one brand in Friarwood’s spirits portfolio – the company also looks after Sash & Fritz Vodka, Tequila Tromba and Per Se aperitivo.
Previously just dealing in wine, the retailer expanded into the spirits industry this year, and we spoke with Carfagnini about the motivations behind the move.