Burrell was hired on as a rum ambassador for J. Wray and Nephew, Ltd. He used the opportunity to begin an immersive education in rum, and ultimately left his job to define a more in-depth, experiential, self-directed course in rum-ology. Burrell traveled the world visiting distillers and bartenders, collecting rum legends and lore, and gaining an encyclopedic knowledge of rum. At the conclusion of his journey, he returned to the UK as the self-defined Global Rum Ambassador.
In 2006, Burrell founded RumFest UK—an event to celebrate all things rum. RumFest is the world’s largest rum festival, and its influence can be felt in rum festivals that have popped up around the world, from Paris to Miami.
As a freelance ambassador, Burrell travels the world—from the UK to Antarctica—promoting the rum category. He serves as a judge for international cocktail competitions, consults for a variety of rum brands, hosts rum events worldwide, and contributes to various publications as a rum expert.
“Rum was my element. Cocktails were my compounds.
My love for chemistry at school was one of the things that got me into bartending.”
IN 7 MONTHS!
A worlds first rum shack in The Antarctic to give back to a worthy cause. The venture, which will saw Burrell serve the local community, was run to raise funds and awareness for the Wine to Water campaign, an organisation that provides clean water to over 150,000 people in poverty-stricken areas around the world. £… was raised
No stranger to helping raise funds for many organizations and charities, Ian has raised xxxx over the years to donate to causes in hospitality and childrens futures. In 2013 Ian Burrell became the first person set up a rum shack in Antarctica. His dream of being able to conduct rum masterclasses and tastings in all seven Continents meant that the most elusive Continent had to be conquered. But not only did he brave the Antarctic cold to spread the gospel of rum, he visited the 6 remaining continents within 10 months further cementing his Global rum ambassador status.
An intensive four-day course which invites rum enthusiasts, journalists, brand ambassadors and bartenders to expand their core knowledge of the spirit with theoretical and practical training from teachers and speakers. the course is a must for those wishing to become empowered by some of the best rum exponents in the world.
In 2014, he secured the Guinness World Record with approximately 600 participants. with figures from each distillery in attendance to present their product, according to the World Record Academy. Ian Burrell said: “Rum is about history and that’s we all achieved today. It was a true honour to be joined by such esteemed representatives of the category and to enjoy such a special evening with so many rum lovers”
“Ian is currently the Rum & Cocktail specialist on UK television’s Channel 4
entertainment show, ”Sunday Brunch”,
where he is regularly seen by millions of viewers educating celebrity guests on
various rums and rum cocktails.
“Ian Burrell is one of the most unique figures in the spirits & cocktail world.
Most people you can pin down & define.
I still haven’t found a way to sum him up, other than
“He’s the rum ambassador & the most entertaining guy you’ll ever meet”.