I Drink rum and hangout for a living
Who Am I?
My name is Bryan, aka “The Rum Champion.” I am a rum-curious rum-enthusiast who has fallen in love with this great spirit.
To me, a “champion” represents a cause they believe in. To me, that means working to bring awareness to the world’s most diverse yet underappreciated spirit: rum.
What started as a hobby on social media has turned into a full-time job of rum education and promotion. In other words, I drink rum and hang out for a living.
And so it begins...
I started my Instagram page (@therumchampion) on September 24th, 2022, to share my love of rum with the world and to show people that there is so much more to rum than Captain Morgan, Sailor Jerry, and Malibu Coconut.
On January 28th, 2023, I hosted my first Rum Curious Club at my apartment in Los Angeles with 12 people. I could have never expected this to blow up the way it did!
Rum: A Full Time Job
Since then, I have amassed 26k+ followers and counting! My Rum Curious Club is hosted at six bars throughout California.
Additionally, I do brand ambassador work for DDL (El Dorado), Barbancourt, and Spiribam.
Outside of the bars that host my Rum Curious Club events. I work with many other bars and liquor stores to host rum tastings and educational events.
To date, I have tasted 1391 rums from 78 countries. I have also accumulated a modest collection of 632 bottles of rum, and more are added to my library each week!
In short, I'm a rum-obsessed lunatic who's turned my passion into a career, and I'm beyond humbled.
The Rum Curious Club
The Rum Curious Club's mission is to unite and delight rum enthusiasts while illuminating the diverse essence of rum. Join us for captivating events, forging connections, and spreading the joy of this underappreciated spirit. Embrace the opportunity to explore, learn, and savor rum's rich heritage. Cheers to the remarkable world of rum!
Currently, we're hosted at:
Tonga Hut - North Hollywood, CA
Bamboo Club - Long Beach, CA
The Lucky Tiki - West Hollywood, CA
Twisted Tiki - Santa Ana, CA
Oldfield's Liquor Room - Culver City, CA
Forbidden Island - Alameda, CA
For more details on how to get involved. Head over to The Rum Curious Club Website!
Rum Educator
In addition to Rum Curious Club events, I host numerous rum events at other bars or liquor stores throughout California. Sometimes, they're cocktail master classes, sometimes they're Rum Curious Happy Hours, and sometimes they're Rum Curious Tastings.
Many of these are free to join. Everything you know about rum is wrong.
The Lucky Tiki
I have also started working at LA's newest tiki bar, The Lucky Tiki in West Hollywood, to complete my full transition into the spirits industry.
If you come in while I'm working, please say hello and I'll pour us a little taste of rum to enjoy together!
Finally, I'm working with The Lucky Tiki to develop Rum Champion Tasting Flights and a sipping society. More details to come!