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.
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.
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...
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+.
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.
Reason #11,843 to not trust AI generated answers. (As if you needed more.)
There are plenty of beloved recipes that use an ounce or more of Angostura. For the answer, i.e., "nope", see this Cocktail Wonk article:
cocktailwonk.com/2019/10/too-...
There are plenty of beloved recipes that use an ounce or more of Angostura. For the answer, i.e., "nope", see this Cocktail Wonk article:
cocktailwonk.com/2019/10/too-...
May 24, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Reason #11,843 to not trust AI generated answers. (As if you needed more.)
There are plenty of beloved recipes that use an ounce or more of Angostura. For the answer, i.e., "nope", see this Cocktail Wonk article:
cocktailwonk.com/2019/10/too-...
There are plenty of beloved recipes that use an ounce or more of Angostura. For the answer, i.e., "nope", see this Cocktail Wonk article:
cocktailwonk.com/2019/10/too-...
A peak into the insanity of shipping companies.
These are the charges to send a 9 lb. from New Orleans to the UK via UPS. If we'd walked into the UPS store as a retail customer, we'd pay $323! But since we have a UPS account, it's "only" $60 -- less than 20% of what retail customers pay. (1/2)
These are the charges to send a 9 lb. from New Orleans to the UK via UPS. If we'd walked into the UPS store as a retail customer, we'd pay $323! But since we have a UPS account, it's "only" $60 -- less than 20% of what retail customers pay. (1/2)
May 19, 2025 at 3:12 AM
A peak into the insanity of shipping companies.
These are the charges to send a 9 lb. from New Orleans to the UK via UPS. If we'd walked into the UPS store as a retail customer, we'd pay $323! But since we have a UPS account, it's "only" $60 -- less than 20% of what retail customers pay. (1/2)
These are the charges to send a 9 lb. from New Orleans to the UK via UPS. If we'd walked into the UPS store as a retail customer, we'd pay $323! But since we have a UPS account, it's "only" $60 -- less than 20% of what retail customers pay. (1/2)
I’m enjoying a Southern Slope, albeit with rum rather than bourbon. Used a little navy-style infinity bottle I’ve got going.
May 17, 2025 at 1:34 AM
I’m enjoying a Southern Slope, albeit with rum rather than bourbon. Used a little navy-style infinity bottle I’ve got going.
It's an almost daily question in the rum groups, "Where are the best places to buy rum in the Caribbean?"
My latest Rum Wonk posts address the topic in a two-part series, including tips on getting it all home and duty-free limits.
www.rumwonk.com/p/good-place...
www.rumwonk.com/p/good-place...
My latest Rum Wonk posts address the topic in a two-part series, including tips on getting it all home and duty-free limits.
www.rumwonk.com/p/good-place...
www.rumwonk.com/p/good-place...
May 12, 2025 at 2:27 PM
It's an almost daily question in the rum groups, "Where are the best places to buy rum in the Caribbean?"
My latest Rum Wonk posts address the topic in a two-part series, including tips on getting it all home and duty-free limits.
www.rumwonk.com/p/good-place...
www.rumwonk.com/p/good-place...
My latest Rum Wonk posts address the topic in a two-part series, including tips on getting it all home and duty-free limits.
www.rumwonk.com/p/good-place...
www.rumwonk.com/p/good-place...
Make ours the same.... (1948 advertisement)
Coruba wasn't always a Wray & Nephew brand. However, the brands rum has been made by W&N since 1962, and the company was acquired it in 1965.
The new Jamaica Rum Fans FB/IG page is sharing Jamaica content on the regular now.
Coruba wasn't always a Wray & Nephew brand. However, the brands rum has been made by W&N since 1962, and the company was acquired it in 1965.
The new Jamaica Rum Fans FB/IG page is sharing Jamaica content on the regular now.
May 2, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Make ours the same.... (1948 advertisement)
Coruba wasn't always a Wray & Nephew brand. However, the brands rum has been made by W&N since 1962, and the company was acquired it in 1965.
The new Jamaica Rum Fans FB/IG page is sharing Jamaica content on the regular now.
Coruba wasn't always a Wray & Nephew brand. However, the brands rum has been made by W&N since 1962, and the company was acquired it in 1965.
The new Jamaica Rum Fans FB/IG page is sharing Jamaica content on the regular now.
NRJ’s most recent release is “MSR,” distilled in 2007 and aged for 17 years. MSR refers to a column-distilled mark made at Clarendon. Although the MSR mark’s ester levels are listed as less than 10 gr/hlAA, the flavor is classic long-aged Jamaican—anything but lightweight. Bottled at 55.1% ABV.
April 26, 2025 at 6:31 PM
NRJ’s most recent release is “MSR,” distilled in 2007 and aged for 17 years. MSR refers to a column-distilled mark made at Clarendon. Although the MSR mark’s ester levels are listed as less than 10 gr/hlAA, the flavor is classic long-aged Jamaican—anything but lightweight. Bottled at 55.1% ABV.
Now in my Top Ten list of “Days” I won’t be celebrating.
April 23, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Now in my Top Ten list of “Days” I won’t be celebrating.
Regarding Mitchell's statement, "For as long as Jamaica has exported rum, it has crossed oceans to undergo further maturation," Consider this from the March 18, 1920 West India Committee Circular showing 6.754 puncheons of Jamaica rum.
6,754 puncheons are 2.7 million liters, or 940,000 US gallons
6,754 puncheons are 2.7 million liters, or 940,000 US gallons
April 21, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Regarding Mitchell's statement, "For as long as Jamaica has exported rum, it has crossed oceans to undergo further maturation," Consider this from the March 18, 1920 West India Committee Circular showing 6.754 puncheons of Jamaica rum.
6,754 puncheons are 2.7 million liters, or 940,000 US gallons
6,754 puncheons are 2.7 million liters, or 940,000 US gallons
"...Jamaica rum was suited for washing off the feet of horses."
Smack talk from the Barbadians in a 1951 Barbados Advocate article.
Elsewhere, “The English people were surprised when they drank Barbados rum and found that they did not have to go to the drug store and buy themselves a mouth wash.”
Smack talk from the Barbadians in a 1951 Barbados Advocate article.
Elsewhere, “The English people were surprised when they drank Barbados rum and found that they did not have to go to the drug store and buy themselves a mouth wash.”
April 20, 2025 at 6:13 PM
"...Jamaica rum was suited for washing off the feet of horses."
Smack talk from the Barbadians in a 1951 Barbados Advocate article.
Elsewhere, “The English people were surprised when they drank Barbados rum and found that they did not have to go to the drug store and buy themselves a mouth wash.”
Smack talk from the Barbadians in a 1951 Barbados Advocate article.
Elsewhere, “The English people were surprised when they drank Barbados rum and found that they did not have to go to the drug store and buy themselves a mouth wash.”
In advance of the forthcoming Wonk Press book on Royal Navy and London Dock rum, some rare video footage of a Royal Navy rum ration issuance during Operation Mainbrace (1952). Sorry, no sound in this one.
April 16, 2025 at 5:01 PM
In advance of the forthcoming Wonk Press book on Royal Navy and London Dock rum, some rare video footage of a Royal Navy rum ration issuance during Operation Mainbrace (1952). Sorry, no sound in this one.
“Mount Homosexual Eclipse,” “Havana Membership Especial,” and “Cruzan Aged Darkish” are among the examples of “Reasonably Aged Rum” in a new article, “The 9 Important Tiki Rum Types – A Newbie’s Information” 1/3
April 11, 2025 at 12:41 AM
“Mount Homosexual Eclipse,” “Havana Membership Especial,” and “Cruzan Aged Darkish” are among the examples of “Reasonably Aged Rum” in a new article, “The 9 Important Tiki Rum Types – A Newbie’s Information” 1/3
Hoping it comes with a magnifying glass for us olds. 😂
March 31, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Hoping it comes with a magnifying glass for us olds. 😂
Perils of a Publisher #394:
Google Ads stopped showing one of our products (without notification) because of "promotional text" in the item image.
The item image is the actual cover of the book.
FFS Google... get your shit together.
Google Ads stopped showing one of our products (without notification) because of "promotional text" in the item image.
The item image is the actual cover of the book.
FFS Google... get your shit together.
March 26, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Perils of a Publisher #394:
Google Ads stopped showing one of our products (without notification) because of "promotional text" in the item image.
The item image is the actual cover of the book.
FFS Google... get your shit together.
Google Ads stopped showing one of our products (without notification) because of "promotional text" in the item image.
The item image is the actual cover of the book.
FFS Google... get your shit together.
After a short break to gallivant around France, the Rum Wonk Substack is back with more nerdy thoughts.
The infographic here is the quick hit. The full story is here: www.rumwonk.com/p/rum-not-al...
And if you like what you're seeing, give it a subscribe. It's free!
The infographic here is the quick hit. The full story is here: www.rumwonk.com/p/rum-not-al...
And if you like what you're seeing, give it a subscribe. It's free!
February 21, 2025 at 1:47 PM
After a short break to gallivant around France, the Rum Wonk Substack is back with more nerdy thoughts.
The infographic here is the quick hit. The full story is here: www.rumwonk.com/p/rum-not-al...
And if you like what you're seeing, give it a subscribe. It's free!
The infographic here is the quick hit. The full story is here: www.rumwonk.com/p/rum-not-al...
And if you like what you're seeing, give it a subscribe. It's free!
No “both sides” here from The NY Times…
February 5, 2025 at 11:54 AM
No “both sides” here from The NY Times…