Matt Pietrek
@rumwonk.bsky.social
Writer, publisher, rum historian, educator and consultant. Author of Modern Caribbean Rum, and the Rum Wonk Substack. AKA Cocktail Wonk.
Mount Gay drops a new silver rum that's different than almost anything else on your shelf. What’s the scoop? The latest from the (always free) Rum Wonk newsletter.
www.rumwonk.com/p/where-does...
www.rumwonk.com/p/where-does...
Where Does Mount Gay’s New Silver Rum Fit In?
Mount Gay drops a new silver rum that's different than almost anything else on your shelf. What’s the scoop?
www.rumwonk.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Mount Gay drops a new silver rum that's different than almost anything else on your shelf. What’s the scoop? The latest from the (always free) Rum Wonk newsletter.
www.rumwonk.com/p/where-does...
www.rumwonk.com/p/where-does...
Fair winds and following seas, Mr. Tobias!
His surprising background and his connection to Michael Fogg of Mr. Fogg fame.
www.rumwonk.com/p/charles-to...
His surprising background and his connection to Michael Fogg of Mr. Fogg fame.
www.rumwonk.com/p/charles-to...
Charles Tobias, Pusser's Rum Founder, Passes
Remembering Charles Tobias: naval aviator, adventurer, and the man who brought Pusser's rum and the Painkiller to the world.
www.rumwonk.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Fair winds and following seas, Mr. Tobias!
His surprising background and his connection to Michael Fogg of Mr. Fogg fame.
www.rumwonk.com/p/charles-to...
His surprising background and his connection to Michael Fogg of Mr. Fogg fame.
www.rumwonk.com/p/charles-to...
Jamaica's rum makers face an uncertain road ahead. Here's what we know so far, along with the additional challenges each distillery may face in resuming operations. My latest on my (always free) Rum Wonk Substack
www.rumwonk.com/p/hurricane-...
www.rumwonk.com/p/hurricane-...
Hurricane Melissa’s Impact on Jamaica’s Rum Makers
After Hurricane Melissa tore across Jamaica, the island’s rum makers face an uncertain road ahead. Here’s what we know so far—and what could come next.
www.rumwonk.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Jamaica's rum makers face an uncertain road ahead. Here's what we know so far, along with the additional challenges each distillery may face in resuming operations. My latest on my (always free) Rum Wonk Substack
www.rumwonk.com/p/hurricane-...
www.rumwonk.com/p/hurricane-...
Within the rum world, Puerto Rico’s Ron del Barrilito is among today’s most misunderstood rums. While the brand has many fans, including me, questions inevitably pop up when it’s discussed in enthusiast circles. My latest Rum Wonk story tackles them head on.
www.rumwonk.com/p/ron-del-ba...
www.rumwonk.com/p/ron-del-ba...
What’s the Story with Ron del Barrilito?
Unmasking Puerto Rico’s most debated rum. Is Ron del Barrilito flavored, legit, or even the island’s oldest? The truth might surprise you.
www.rumwonk.com
October 7, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Within the rum world, Puerto Rico’s Ron del Barrilito is among today’s most misunderstood rums. While the brand has many fans, including me, questions inevitably pop up when it’s discussed in enthusiast circles. My latest Rum Wonk story tackles them head on.
www.rumwonk.com/p/ron-del-ba...
www.rumwonk.com/p/ron-del-ba...
Tasting Sail No. 2, the second limited-edition of Planteray’s Navy-style rum.
To my palate, No. 2 dials back the fruitcake spices of No. 1, replacing them with more Demerara and heavy Trinidad notes. All in all, I find the No. 2 closer to the flavors I associate with the RN flavor profile.
To my palate, No. 2 dials back the fruitcake spices of No. 1, replacing them with more Demerara and heavy Trinidad notes. All in all, I find the No. 2 closer to the flavors I associate with the RN flavor profile.
September 26, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Tasting Sail No. 2, the second limited-edition of Planteray’s Navy-style rum.
To my palate, No. 2 dials back the fruitcake spices of No. 1, replacing them with more Demerara and heavy Trinidad notes. All in all, I find the No. 2 closer to the flavors I associate with the RN flavor profile.
To my palate, No. 2 dials back the fruitcake spices of No. 1, replacing them with more Demerara and heavy Trinidad notes. All in all, I find the No. 2 closer to the flavors I associate with the RN flavor profile.
Reposted by Matt Pietrek
Super fun tasting episode with @rumwonk.bsky.social. We puzzle over my Grandma's tiny bottle of 1970s Captain Morgan, talk Jamaican rum history, and compare my bottle to a modern Jamaican bottling. Watch the video or read the transcript at the link, or listen in on your favorite podcast app! 🍸
Tasting Video #49 | my tiny bottles
Tammy is joined by Matt Pietrek, AKA Rum Wonk, to taste a tiny bottle of Captain Morgan Gold Label from the 1970s.
mytinybottles.com
September 24, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Super fun tasting episode with @rumwonk.bsky.social. We puzzle over my Grandma's tiny bottle of 1970s Captain Morgan, talk Jamaican rum history, and compare my bottle to a modern Jamaican bottling. Watch the video or read the transcript at the link, or listen in on your favorite podcast app! 🍸
A follow-up to my earlier story. An Equiano co-founder and large shareholder appears to have purchased the brand's assets, beating out a rival bid from another co-founder.
www.rumwonk.com/p/equiano-ru...
www.rumwonk.com/p/equiano-ru...
Equiano Rum - Dueling Ownership Bids
Dueling bids for the brand's assets and a founder’s exit —Equiano Rum battle spills into the spotlight.
www.rumwonk.com
September 5, 2025 at 5:52 PM
A follow-up to my earlier story. An Equiano co-founder and large shareholder appears to have purchased the brand's assets, beating out a rival bid from another co-founder.
www.rumwonk.com/p/equiano-ru...
www.rumwonk.com/p/equiano-ru...
There's more to the recent Equiano news than you may have heard, including an Uncle Nearest connection. The latest from my Rum Wonk newsletter.
www.rumwonk.com/p/equiano-ru...
www.rumwonk.com/p/equiano-ru...
Equiano Rum - What Happened?
Ian Burrell announced he’s no longer representing Equiano Rum. UK government filings tell more of the story, including a possible Uncle Nearest connection.
www.rumwonk.com
September 3, 2025 at 2:05 PM
There's more to the recent Equiano news than you may have heard, including an Uncle Nearest connection. The latest from my Rum Wonk newsletter.
www.rumwonk.com/p/equiano-ru...
www.rumwonk.com/p/equiano-ru...
"...the 2nd Adjusted Formula was a necessary accommodation, rather than an improvement on his original rum iterations ... Why use an understudy when the star performer is available?"
Some deep thoughts for this year's Mai Tai Day.
www.rumwonk.com/p/mai-tai-ru...
#maitaiday
Some deep thoughts for this year's Mai Tai Day.
www.rumwonk.com/p/mai-tai-ru...
#maitaiday
Mai Tai Rum(s): Myths and Mistakes
The Great Mai Tai Rum Debate - Are we overthinking it? Some historical context provides guidance.
www.rumwonk.com
August 30, 2025 at 1:36 PM
"...the 2nd Adjusted Formula was a necessary accommodation, rather than an improvement on his original rum iterations ... Why use an understudy when the star performer is available?"
Some deep thoughts for this year's Mai Tai Day.
www.rumwonk.com/p/mai-tai-ru...
#maitaiday
Some deep thoughts for this year's Mai Tai Day.
www.rumwonk.com/p/mai-tai-ru...
#maitaiday
What was London Dock rum—and why did it matter just as much as the Navy’s daily tot? A chapter excerpt from the new book, "The Rum Never Sets" explains.
www.rumwonk.com/p/london-doc...
www.rumwonk.com/p/london-doc...
What Was London Dock Rum?
What was London Dock rum—and why did it matter just as much as the Navy’s daily tot? A chapter excerpt from The Rum Never Sets explains.
www.rumwonk.com
August 25, 2025 at 2:03 PM
What was London Dock rum—and why did it matter just as much as the Navy’s daily tot? A chapter excerpt from the new book, "The Rum Never Sets" explains.
www.rumwonk.com/p/london-doc...
www.rumwonk.com/p/london-doc...
Reposted by Matt Pietrek
Book 14 of 2025: The Tequila Ambassador V.O. by Tomas Estes. I tried to find the 2012 version around 8 years ago to no avail, and this is a beautifully expanded version put out by @rumwonk.bsky.social WonkPress. www.wonkpress.com/products/the...
The Tequila Ambassador V.O. Book
Enter the vibrant world of Tequila with Tomas Estes—cofounder of Tequila Ocho and the original Tequila Ambassador. Tomas educated on agave spirits around the globe for decades. The book contains chapt...
www.wonkpress.com
August 23, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Book 14 of 2025: The Tequila Ambassador V.O. by Tomas Estes. I tried to find the 2012 version around 8 years ago to no avail, and this is a beautifully expanded version put out by @rumwonk.bsky.social WonkPress. www.wonkpress.com/products/the...
El Dorado's new PM/DHE release blends Port Mourant and Diamond High Ester marks. While PM isn’t high ester, DHE goes up to 7,000 gr/hlAA of esters. It follows El Dorado’s previous LBI/DHE blend.
Bottled at 51.7% ABV, the PM asserts itself first, then the DHE mark roars to life with a long finish.
Bottled at 51.7% ABV, the PM asserts itself first, then the DHE mark roars to life with a long finish.
August 20, 2025 at 5:13 PM
El Dorado's new PM/DHE release blends Port Mourant and Diamond High Ester marks. While PM isn’t high ester, DHE goes up to 7,000 gr/hlAA of esters. It follows El Dorado’s previous LBI/DHE blend.
Bottled at 51.7% ABV, the PM asserts itself first, then the DHE mark roars to life with a long finish.
Bottled at 51.7% ABV, the PM asserts itself first, then the DHE mark roars to life with a long finish.
“Jamaica rum” once said it all in drink recipes. But today, with every producer making a variety of different rums, it’s time to break down the common substyles seen in practice. See link to the Rum Wonk article with more details below - or use the QR code!
www.rumwonk.com/p/jamaica-ru...
www.rumwonk.com/p/jamaica-ru...
August 18, 2025 at 1:29 PM
“Jamaica rum” once said it all in drink recipes. But today, with every producer making a variety of different rums, it’s time to break down the common substyles seen in practice. See link to the Rum Wonk article with more details below - or use the QR code!
www.rumwonk.com/p/jamaica-ru...
www.rumwonk.com/p/jamaica-ru...
The American Distilling Institute asked me to write about the West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados for their Distiller Magazine. An overview of the distillery's history, with a particular emphasis on what's new in 2017.
distilling.com/distillermag...
distilling.com/distillermag...
The West Indies Rum Distillery: Old Distillery, New Tricks | Distiller Magazine
This historic Barbados rum maker enters a new chapter under the leadership of Maison Ferrand.
distilling.com
July 30, 2025 at 8:27 AM
The American Distilling Institute asked me to write about the West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados for their Distiller Magazine. An overview of the distillery's history, with a particular emphasis on what's new in 2017.
distilling.com/distillermag...
distilling.com/distillermag...
Land Ho!
We’re excited to share the arrival of our new book, The Rum Never Sets: 300 Years of Royal Navy & London Dock Rum, by me and Alexandre Gabriel.
An epic quest to uncover the untold truths behind three centuries of Royal Navy and London Dock rum.
www.wonkpress.com/products/the...
We’re excited to share the arrival of our new book, The Rum Never Sets: 300 Years of Royal Navy & London Dock Rum, by me and Alexandre Gabriel.
An epic quest to uncover the untold truths behind three centuries of Royal Navy and London Dock rum.
www.wonkpress.com/products/the...
The Rum Never Sets Book
Uncover 300 years of Royal Navy & London Dock rum in this thrilling dive into maritime history, myths, and the spirit that fueled an empire.
www.wonkpress.com
July 21, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Land Ho!
We’re excited to share the arrival of our new book, The Rum Never Sets: 300 Years of Royal Navy & London Dock Rum, by me and Alexandre Gabriel.
An epic quest to uncover the untold truths behind three centuries of Royal Navy and London Dock rum.
www.wonkpress.com/products/the...
We’re excited to share the arrival of our new book, The Rum Never Sets: 300 Years of Royal Navy & London Dock Rum, by me and Alexandre Gabriel.
An epic quest to uncover the untold truths behind three centuries of Royal Navy and London Dock rum.
www.wonkpress.com/products/the...
"The Source will be available to select global markets starting July 2025 and priced at $70,000 USD."
Well, now we know. 😊
www.prnewswire.com/news-release...
Well, now we know. 😊
www.prnewswire.com/news-release...
APPLETON ESTATE JAMAICA RUM UNVEILS THE LONGEST TROPICALLY AGED RUM EVER RELEASED: THE SOURCE 51-YEAR-OLD
/PRNewswire/ -- Appleton Estate, the oldest continuously operating rum distillery in Jamaica and among the oldest rum distilleries in the world, proudly...
www.prnewswire.com
July 15, 2025 at 4:37 PM
"The Source will be available to select global markets starting July 2025 and priced at $70,000 USD."
Well, now we know. 😊
www.prnewswire.com/news-release...
Well, now we know. 😊
www.prnewswire.com/news-release...
Hey NOLA friends! Or folks in New Orleans later this month for whatever reason... 😊
Come see me at the Arnaud's French 75 Bar on July 21st between 7 and 9 PM. More details in the post graphic!
Come see me at the Arnaud's French 75 Bar on July 21st between 7 and 9 PM. More details in the post graphic!
July 11, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Hey NOLA friends! Or folks in New Orleans later this month for whatever reason... 😊
Come see me at the Arnaud's French 75 Bar on July 21st between 7 and 9 PM. More details in the post graphic!
Come see me at the Arnaud's French 75 Bar on July 21st between 7 and 9 PM. More details in the post graphic!
So... here's a very interesting US TTB label approval: a (minimum) 51-year aged Appleton.
100% pot still, 62% ABV and 700ml. The label says "One of 25 Decanters" but that may just be for the US market.
Appleton is teasing a July 15th launch, and pricing isn't known, but surely will be $1000+.
100% pot still, 62% ABV and 700ml. The label says "One of 25 Decanters" but that may just be for the US market.
Appleton is teasing a July 15th launch, and pricing isn't known, but surely will be $1000+.
July 11, 2025 at 1:26 AM
So... here's a very interesting US TTB label approval: a (minimum) 51-year aged Appleton.
100% pot still, 62% ABV and 700ml. The label says "One of 25 Decanters" but that may just be for the US market.
Appleton is teasing a July 15th launch, and pricing isn't known, but surely will be $1000+.
100% pot still, 62% ABV and 700ml. The label says "One of 25 Decanters" but that may just be for the US market.
Appleton is teasing a July 15th launch, and pricing isn't known, but surely will be $1000+.
As the Community Envoy for the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers' Association, I get to interview the folks making the Caribbean's best rums. In our sixth episode of WIRSPA's Rum Makers series, we chat with Marc Paul, Angostura's distillery manager.
Link to watch: youtu.be/GsWOA0ZEj9M?...
Link to watch: youtu.be/GsWOA0ZEj9M?...
WIRSPA Rum Makers Series: Marc Paul of Angostura
YouTube video by WIRSPA
youtu.be
July 10, 2025 at 1:56 AM
As the Community Envoy for the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers' Association, I get to interview the folks making the Caribbean's best rums. In our sixth episode of WIRSPA's Rum Makers series, we chat with Marc Paul, Angostura's distillery manager.
Link to watch: youtu.be/GsWOA0ZEj9M?...
Link to watch: youtu.be/GsWOA0ZEj9M?...
My latest Rum Wonk newsletter story takes readers behind the curtain of independent rum bottlers, with some surprising twists. This infographic, which John Hsu of Raising Glasses created, is just the tip of the iceberg.
See RumWonk for the full story:
www.rumwonk.com/p/why-does-t...
See RumWonk for the full story:
www.rumwonk.com/p/why-does-t...
July 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
My latest Rum Wonk newsletter story takes readers behind the curtain of independent rum bottlers, with some surprising twists. This infographic, which John Hsu of Raising Glasses created, is just the tip of the iceberg.
See RumWonk for the full story:
www.rumwonk.com/p/why-does-t...
See RumWonk for the full story:
www.rumwonk.com/p/why-does-t...
My latest on the Rum Wonk Newsletter.
Additives in rum are a controversial topic. In this post, I present the regulations of 24 key rum-making regions regarding the matter. This infographic here is just part of the full story here:
www.rumwonk.com/p/rum-additi...
Additives in rum are a controversial topic. In this post, I present the regulations of 24 key rum-making regions regarding the matter. This infographic here is just part of the full story here:
www.rumwonk.com/p/rum-additi...
June 16, 2025 at 2:48 PM
My latest on the Rum Wonk Newsletter.
Additives in rum are a controversial topic. In this post, I present the regulations of 24 key rum-making regions regarding the matter. This infographic here is just part of the full story here:
www.rumwonk.com/p/rum-additi...
Additives in rum are a controversial topic. In this post, I present the regulations of 24 key rum-making regions regarding the matter. This infographic here is just part of the full story here:
www.rumwonk.com/p/rum-additi...
Wray & Nephew’s “Edwin Charley Proprietor’s Collection" from 2005. The four rums are: ‘Foundation’, ‘Transformation’, ‘Enlightenment’ and ‘Virtue’. The slender 700ml hand-blown Venetian glass bottles contain glass statuettes inside. Each symbolizes one of the steps in the rum-making process.
June 13, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Wray & Nephew’s “Edwin Charley Proprietor’s Collection" from 2005. The four rums are: ‘Foundation’, ‘Transformation’, ‘Enlightenment’ and ‘Virtue’. The slender 700ml hand-blown Venetian glass bottles contain glass statuettes inside. Each symbolizes one of the steps in the rum-making process.
While Appleton Estate and 1749 are nearly synonymous, the brand itself only dates to 1944.
The brand was registered in the US in 1945, as seen here. The earliest use in Jamaica was 1944.
While "Appleton" previously appeared on Wray & Nephew labels, Appleton was a descriptor, not the brand itself.
The brand was registered in the US in 1945, as seen here. The earliest use in Jamaica was 1944.
While "Appleton" previously appeared on Wray & Nephew labels, Appleton was a descriptor, not the brand itself.
June 11, 2025 at 8:19 PM
While Appleton Estate and 1749 are nearly synonymous, the brand itself only dates to 1944.
The brand was registered in the US in 1945, as seen here. The earliest use in Jamaica was 1944.
While "Appleton" previously appeared on Wray & Nephew labels, Appleton was a descriptor, not the brand itself.
The brand was registered in the US in 1945, as seen here. The earliest use in Jamaica was 1944.
While "Appleton" previously appeared on Wray & Nephew labels, Appleton was a descriptor, not the brand itself.
Sugar Mill Rum first appeared in Jamaica circa 1961 and was the first column distilled Jamaica rum promoted as such. Jamaica's rum makers realized that they could no longer avoid using column stills. The brand's ownership is murky, but a 1972 W&N report suggests it owned the brand.
June 10, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Sugar Mill Rum first appeared in Jamaica circa 1961 and was the first column distilled Jamaica rum promoted as such. Jamaica's rum makers realized that they could no longer avoid using column stills. The brand's ownership is murky, but a 1972 W&N report suggests it owned the brand.