Thirsty people flocked to Downtown Alameda on Friday, September 26, for the second annual Rum Stroll tasting tour that doubled as a lively community gathering.
The Rum Stroll followed in the footsteps of Alameda’s earlier spirit strolls that featured whiskey, wine, and more. A portion of each ticket (around $70 for the full rum and small bite tasting, $20 for designated drivers) supported the Alameda Education Foundation, which funds enrichment programs, student supports, and equity-centered initiatives in local schools. QR codes were available at most pouring stations, giving attendees another chance to contribute. The Downtown Alameda Business Association organized the event, reminding everyone that these strolls help keep the district clean and safe.
The event was structured to allow everyone to move at their own pace. After checking in, participants could start wherever they pleased, following the maps on our lanyards. Many clipped on the glowing pins that volunteers handed out at check-in, and those small lights made the atmosphere even more festive as the evening grew darker.
At more than 10 stops, participants sampled neat pours from distillers as local as Oakland’s Wright & Brown (the city’s first distillery since Prohibition) and as distant as KōHana Distillers of Oahu, Hawaii. Each location had its own rhythm. One featured live musicians, another set out salads, another had a distiller explaining barrel aging. The experience unfolded block by block with people weaving between storefronts, glasses in hand (branded shot glasses were included with the cost of a ticket).
Although the focus was rum, the night also showcased the character of Park Street. Some attendees made their first visits to restaurants or shops they had walked past for years.
For true rum aficionados, there was a VIP session earlier in the evening at Dragon Rouge, where sailor-turned-rum-writer Edward Hamilton led a tasting informed by decades of travel among Caribbean distilleries. Michael Thanos of Forbidden Island, a popular Alameda tiki bar, joined him with a discussion of their house blend. Those who didn’t attend listened with interest to VIPs discussing all they learned at the event.
The small bites offered at selected stops provided welcome breaks—Alameda Cinema Grill, Hobnob, Tomatina, and several other kitchens turned out savory and sweet pairings. The sliders, both meat and vegetarian, served by the Cinema Grill were especially fortifying. The chocolate samples that were created that day with featured rums folded into the recipe drew special praise.
As Alameda local Aisha Bunkley observed, Alameda Strolls brought in a good variety of rums and represented many different countries, reminding her of her Trinidadian home. She observed, “There are rums that taste like cognac. There are sipping rums.” Some rums tasted rich and smooth, others sharp or spicy. Forbidden Island offered just a few of the more than 150 rums featured on their list. The different pours appealed to different moods and occasions, and it was fun listening to folks debate which tasting was their favorite.
What I loved was getting to meet surprise legends of Alameda. Jason Michael Paul of Coffee Cultures expressed his gratitude at being part of this event as someone born and raised in Alameda whose grandfather worked at the Navy base. (Side note for local gamers: Paul is also known as the producer behind “The Legend of Zelda” concert series.) He served up amazing pineapple soft-serve with rum, reminiscent of a certain mouse company’s famous treat.
By the end of the evening, as people began to drift home, the takeaway was clear—the Rum Stroll has become a tradition worth keeping. As one new Alameda resident put it, this stroll served as a pleasant reminder of how walkable Alameda is and how friendly the atmosphere can be.
Vivian Delchamps Wolf (English PhD, UCLA, 2022) is a professor of English at Dominican University of California. She is also a disability justice advocate, ballroom dancer, cat lover, and board game enthusiast.
