The Original Rum Bum Rising Stars Challenge
A rum cocktail competition created to discover and celebrate rising bartending talent.
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As founder of The Original Rum Bum®, I’m proud to welcome you to our first Rising Stars Challenge. This is your opportunity to show us your originality, share the thinking behind your cocktail and put your talent in front of the industry’s most respected names. Good luck!
Kevin “Snooky” Snook
Founder, The Original Rum Bum®
A welcome from Snooky
A standout prize package including a special trophy, an overnight stay at Bray Cottages, dinner at The Braywood and a trip to a bartenders’ convention in Italy.
The prizes
Ian Burrell - Head Judge
The Global Rum Ambassador, UK RumFest founder and internationally acclaimed rum educator.
Cav. Salvatore Calabrese OMRI
The Maestro, World-renowned bartender, author and recipient of the 2026 Roku Industry Icon Award.
Meet the judges
Trade only | Ages 18–28
ELIGABILITY
The Braywood, Maidenhead
VENUE
10am–4pm
TIME
Monday 28 September 2026
DATE
Nicola Pellegrinetti
Bar Manager at 74 Charlotte Street, with seven years’ experience creating cocktails across leading London venues.
Nunzio Giunta
General Manager of The Woodspeen, combining his bartending roots with people-focused hospitality leadership.
Create an original rum-based cocktail and tell us the thinking behind your ingredients.
Our judges will select 10 finalists to join us at The Braywood and compete in The Original Rum Bum Rising Stars Challenge.
Show us what you can do!
Ten finalists join us at The Braywood
03 Compete
Complete the form and upload your photo
02 Enter
Make your own unique rum cocktail
01 Create
Complete the application form below. Entries close Sunday, 30 August 2026.
