Husk Distillers' week of celebrating rum, cane and community

THE ANNUAL Husk Rum Harvest Fest is around the corner, with a week of festivities and feature events from August 12-18.

Described as a country fair-meets-rum-festival, the celebration of rum, culture, and community also honours the cane harvest and the region’s abundant produce.

The week will feature live music, outdoor cooking, pop-up bars, rum experiences, rolling tours, kids’ activities, cane juicing, cow feeding, and the sugar cane javelin competition for bragging rights and cash prizes.

The Tweed Regional Museum, Minjumbul Centre, and Sunshine Sugar will also host pop-ups.

On Friday, August 16, the ticketed event, the Husk Rum Tasting Club + Campfire Supper features Husk founder Paul Messenger and head distiller Quentin Brival.

Head Distiller Quentin Brival gears up for a day of fun and festivities.

The first tasting club highlights the exclusive and limited release of Husk Porter Cask ACR, aged in ex-Stone & Wood beer barrels and limited to less than 1000 bottles. Barrel tapping to sample straight from the source will be followed by a campfire dinner of damper, savoury mince, and hot buttered rum.

Messenger said he was delighted to be hosting the Husk Rum Harvest Fest.

“I’m thrilled to share our passion for rum and this land with the community,” he said. “This event is a celebration of our journey, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone to our distillery for a great weekend celebrating everything local.”

The Husk Harvest Festival Day on Saturday, August 17 boasts live music, local food pop-ups, outdoor cooking, behind-the-scenes tours, free rum masterclasses, and the sugar cane javelin competition.

Head Distiller Quentin Brival stands at the source on the first day of Harvest. Photo: SUPPLIED

Sunday 18 is Community Day and promises a relaxed day of family fun with cane juicing, family-friendly entertainment, free distillery tours and live acoustic music from Finn Hoy and Birren Slabb.

Tickets to the weekend festival days are $10 for kids, including a non-alcoholic drink, and $20 entry for adults, which includes a welcome cocktail and access to all rum tastings and masterclasses.

The Husk Harvest Fest runs from August 12-18, and tickets can be found at www.huskdistillers.com/husk-rum-harvest-fest-2024