In celebration of World Rum Day, Diplomático has collaborated with Sydney’s newest Latin American dining experience, Morena, to launch an exclusive ‘A Taste of Venezuela’ menu.

World Rum Day is held annually on the second Saturday in July and honours the rich history and diverse flavours of rum. The celebration has morphed into a whole month of rum appreciation in countries including Australia.

Created as an homage to Diplomático rum’s heritage and aligned to Maestro Ronero (Rum Master), Nelson Hernandez’ inaugural visit down under, ‘A Taste Of Venezuela’ creatively blends authentic, traditional flavours with contemporary cooking techniques.

The resulting menu provides diners with a unique perspective on modern Venezuelan cuisine, paired with Diplomático rums.

Available for one month from 15 July, the four-course menu features nine dishes, including an indulgent MBS 5+ Black Opal wagyu girello drizzled with a jus enhanced with the sweet, fruity vanilla notes of Diplomático rum’s signature Reserva Exclusiva blend.

There is also rum-doused free-range chicken served with hallaquitas – a common Venezuelan holiday dish similar to a
tamale – and, to end, a tropical twist on a classic Latin American flan that pairs coconut flavours with a rum-infused burnt caramel sauce.

To complement the dishes, Morena’s mixology team have also crafted a duo of Diplomático rum cocktails to top and tail the ‘Taste of Venezuela’ experience. The aperitif-style Joropo Encantando features a blend of Diplomático Planas white rum, fermented pineapple tepache, cumin-spiced demerara sugar and sherry. Meanwhile, the aromatic Aurora Express is designed to end a meal on an elegant note, combining Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva rum with Morena’s in-house coffee, warm spicy mandarin cardamom syrup and orange bitters.

Morena Head Chef, Venezuelan-born Samuel Rivas said: “At Morena, we are dedicated to elevating the way Sydneysiders engage with the diverse cuisines from across Latin America. Given rum is an intrinsic part of Venezuelan culture and Diplomático rum represents the pinnacle of the country’s premium spirit offering, it felt like a natural fit to team up and offer adventurous Australian diners something unexpected.”

Diplomático Maestro Ronero Nelson Hernandez said: “It’s such a pleasure to finally get to visit Australia as we celebrate World Rum Day. Having worked with the Diplomático team for over three decades, I still get so much enjoyment from exploring how other countries get creative with rum.

“The collaboration with Morena beautifully captures how versatile a premium rum like Diplomático can be – whether you’re looking to create a delicious cocktail or cook with it. Just as Diplomatico’s rum production process takes inspiration from both traditional methods and modern techniques to make each blend, the chefs at Morena have done an incredible job of combining the old and the new to create something memorable.”

Diplomático rum and Morena’s ‘Taste of Venezuela’ chef’s selection menu will be available from 15
July to 12 August, for $150 per person.

For further creative rum inspiration, Sydneysiders can also enjoy a complimentary Diplomático cocktail throughout July from a luxurious line-up of 20 Sydney bars. More information on how to claim a cocktail can be found here.

Rum sales boom in bars & pubs

New data shows rum sales are beating general trends in the on-premise market.

According to CGA by NIQ’s latest On Premise Measurement Report, which analyses drinks trends in Australia’s pubs, bars and restaurants, there has been a year-on-year drop in spirits sales by volume of 8.1% in the last 12 months. Sales by value increased by just 0.6%, driven by price increases triggered by high inflation.

However, rum sales by value have risen by 2.5% in the last year, while prices have climbed 8.7%.

CGA’s breakdown of the category indicates that golden rum has been outperforming white rum. Golden sales by value have increased by 7.6% year-on-year, while white has dropped by 9.3%.