In the days before Paul Revere made his midnight ride, colonial North Americans favored one spirit above all others: rum. But while the delicious nectar—fermented and distilled from sugarcane and molasses—remains a top-shelf staple for daiquiris and mojitos, it seems to have gone down in status as America's signature liquor. Fortunately, the devoted enthusiasts of The Rum Lab have created the MidWest Rum Fest, a traveling expo that aims to give the dark, golden beverage back its crown without us falling back under the rule of King George III. As live tropical music floats through the air, guests become rum aficionados by tasting new cocktails, attending seminars from rum creators, and watching bartenders clash in a mixology demonstration.