Cocktail Wonk

Alexandre Gabriel – On the Record

One of my favorite things about writing Cocktail Wonk is the opportunity to sit down with key people in the rum industry and go deep with geeky questions of interest to rum enthusiasts. Without any space constraints, I can let them really elucidate their unique perspectives. While these interviews are long, you really get a sense of what the interviewee is all about, at least with regards to rum.

Cocktail Wonk Top Ten Stories of 2019

It’s time once again for my year-end roundup of the most important Cocktail Wonk stories of the year – 2019 Edition!

Great Cringe-Free Gifts for Rum Enthusiasts

Picking out a gift for a friend or family member who loves rum, but you’re not a rum expert yourself? This short guide has your dilemma in mind!

In what follows, you’ll find concrete recommendations for readily available rums that have a much greater chance of delighting the giftee. I can’t promise you that every bottle will be the perfect selection for the recipient, but by following these recommendations you’ll have a much lower chance of them slapping their forehead in dismay after your departure.

Setting the Record Straight on British Navy Rum

History presents a special challenge to those writing it or seeking knowledge from its pages: It constantly changes underneath your feet. Facts we once believed to be true may be contradicted later by later-arriving sources. Reasonable assumptions made about one era may not apply to another. New sources come to light which recast conclusions made by prior sources.

I’ve seen this firsthand when it comes to British Navy rum, a topic I’ve dug deeply into over the past year. Its stories are popular with rum enthusiasts and even make it into the mainstream press on occasion. Unfortunately, these stories mutate over time and become factually incorrect, much like the children’s game of “telephone.” And once a less-than-accurate narrative is released into the wild, it’s particularly difficult to stamp it out.

Rocky Yeh – A Legend Passes

Heartbreak.

Rocky Yeh is suddenly gone, leaving an entire industry struggling with how to process his life and his impact on so many people.

Although I first met Rocky six years ago, it was only the last year I really got to know him. To sit with him 1-on-1, tell stories, strategize, and muse on the past and the future. That’s when I came to realize just what a modern-day renaissance man Rocky Yeh was.

Your Next Holiday Drink Sensation: The Coquito

A quick post to share a recipe which several people asked for after my social media post.

The Coquito is a sinfully rich drink associated with Puerto Rico and Christmas. Some call it the Puerto Rican answer to Eggnog. I shall not describe its history and cultural significance here as there are many sources readily available.

After many years enjoying Coquitos at Seattle’s Rumba, I looked forward to another coquito season. But having moved to New Orleans, that wasn’t happening without a plane ticket. Luckily, I discovered Coquitos are incredibly easy to make! You’ll spend more time finding the canned goods aisle in the grocery store than making the recipe.