Madeira to host the Spirits Selection by CMB for the first time
For its 28th edition, the Spirits Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB) will take place in Portugal for the first time, from 16 to 18 October 2026, on the island of Madeira. The event will bring together a jury of more than 100 international spirits specialists for blind tastings covering the world’s major spirits categories.
A first edition in Portugal
Created to recognise excellence, diversity and authenticity in international spirits, the Spirits Selection by CMB will travel to Portugal for the first time in 2026. Madeira was selected for its historical role in Atlantic sugarcane cultivation, its contribution to the early development and dissemination of rum production techniques, and its long-standing integration into international wine and spirits trade.
Focus on Rum da Madeira
Madeira occupies a singular position in European rum history as the birthplace of Rum da Madeira, Portugal’s only rum with Geographical Indication status. Produced exclusively from fresh sugarcane juice rather than molasses, this rum is defined by strict origin requirements and clearly framed production specifications.
Since the formal recognition of the Rum da Madeira GI in 2021, the category has entered a phase of consolidation and increased international visibility. Rum remains one of the more resilient spirits categories, even in a challenging market. Madeira is therefore not a symbolic choice but a relevant one, where rum production and consumption are deeply rooted on the island, supported by a strong hospitality culture well suited to hosting one of the most international events in the spirits industry.
— Ulric Nijs, Director, Spirits Selection by CMB
Poncha and its Madeiran origins
Poncha is a traditional Madeiran drink that appeared in the 19th century, originally consumed within fishing and agricultural communities. Made from Rum da Madeira, honey and citrus juice, it has long formed part of local social practices rather than ceremonial or touristic occasions. Its continued presence reflects the long-established place of rum within Madeira’s cultural and social landscape.
From Madeira wine to spirit maturation
Since the 17th century, Madeira has been a reference point for fortified wines, shaped by long-distance maritime trade and distinctive production practices based on controlled heating and oxidative ageing, including the estufagem process. These practices produce wines of high stability and longevity, whose character and production process have created casks that are today highly sought after for the maturation and finishing of spirits, particularly rum and whisky. The circulation of Madeira wine casks within the spirits industry reinforces the island’s continued relevance beyond wine production itself and highlights its lasting influence on contemporary maturation practices.
Madeira’s long-standing involvement in rum production and fortified wines has given the island a clear and enduring role within the global wine and spirits industry. This combination of historical significance and contemporary relevance makes it a particularly appropriate host for the Spirits Selection by CMB.
It is with great pleasure and profound pride that the Autonomous Region of Madeira will host, in 2026, the Spirits Selection by CMB, one of the most prestigious international spirits competitions worldwide. This is an absolutely unique and unprecedented occasion: Portugal has never before hosted an event of this nature, and the fact that its first edition in the country will take place in our Region makes this moment all the more special and symbolic.
Hosting an event of such scale and international recognition in Madeira represents a unique opportunity to affirm Madeira Rum as an authentic expression of our history, our territory, and the ancestral know-how of our producers, showcasing its excellence to the most demanding specialists, judges, and international markets.
The choice of Madeira as the venue for this major international competition deeply honours us and confirms the confidence placed in the exceptional conditions the Region offers: high-quality infrastructure, safety, excellent accessibility, and a tourism destination of excellence, renowned for the hospitality of its people and its mild climate throughout the year.
The union between an event of international renown and a territory with a strong cultural and productive identity further enhances Madeira’s international projection and consolidates its position as a destination of choice for hosting events of global prestige.
We look forward to welcoming you all to Madeira.
Madeira awaits you!
— Tiago Freitas, President, IVBAM
About the Spirits Selection by CMB
The Spirits Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is an international competition dedicated exclusively to spirits. Renowned for the rigour of its blind tastings, the expertise of its international jury and the reliability of its results, the competition evaluates most global spirits categories.
An itinerant competition since 2006, the Spirits Selection by CMB combines technical evaluation with the promotion of host regions and their production cultures.
Be Spirits – tasting invitation
Visitors will also be invited to discover Rum da Madeira and sample traditional poncha at the Spirits Selection stand during the Be Spirits event, on the evening of 9 February, from 18:30 to 20:30 (Hall 2.2, Stand C047). This informal moment will offer professionals an opportunity to experience the island’s rum culture firsthand, in a setting designed for exchange and discovery.
Press Contact:
Anne de Bidlot
anne.debidlot@vinopres.com
+32 2 533 27 65
Insta : rumdamadeira
Facebook : www.facebook.com/madeirarum
