It's that time of year again, RumFest approaches! And so too does its precursor, The 2012 Golden Rum Barrel Awards celebrating the great and good of the rum world. The nominations have just been unveiled, so feast your eyes...

Distillery of the Year

Distilerias Unidas S A, (Venezuela)

St. Nicholas Abbey (Barbados)

Angostura Distillery, (Trinidad)

St Lucia Distillery, Roseau Valley, (St. Lucia)

Master Rum Distiller of the Year

Ricardo Henriquez (Varela Hermanos, Panama)

John Georges (Angostura Distillery, Trinidad)

Larry Warren (St. Nicholas Abbey, Barbados)

Roberto Seralles (Seralles Distillery, Puerto Rico)

Master Rum Blender of the Year

Alexandre Gabriel (Plantation Rums, France)

Omar Lopez (Oliver & Oliver, Dominican Rep)

Joy Spence (Appleton Rum, Jamaica)

Francisco 'Don Pancho' Fernandez (Zafra 21, Ron De Jeremy, Panama)

Rum Blogger of the Year

refinedfices.com

rumdood.com

amountainofcrushedice.com

therumcollective.com

UK Rum Ambassador of the Year sponsored by Bar Life UK

Shervene Shahbazkhani (Bacardi)

Daniel Dove (Ron Zacapa)

Jamie Macdonald (Appleton Rum)

Miguel Smith, (Mount Gay Rum)

International Rum Ambassador of the Year sponsored by Drinks International

Stefanie Holte (El Dorado Rum)

Mario Navarro (Ron Zacapa)

Jim Meehan (Banks 5 Island Rum)

John Georges (Angostura Rum)

Best New Rum (Gold) sponsored by Coco Re’al

Appleton 50 Year old, Jamaica

Banks 7 Golden Aged Rum

Rhum St Barth Authentic, St Barths

Dos Maderas Luxus Doble Crianza Rum, Spain

Best New Rum (White) sponsored by Coco Re’al

Caliche Rum, Puerto Rico

Plantation 3 Stars, France

Brugal Especial Extra Dry, Dominican Republic

Vizcaya Crystal, Dominican Republic

Best New Rum Package

Appleton 50 Year Old, Jamaica

Legacy by Angostura, Trinidad

Bacardi de Maestros de Ron, Vintage MMXII Rum , Puerto Rico

Dos Maderas Luxus Doble Crianza Rum, Spain

News item from Imbibe.com, 27-09-2012