Rum history students know that it’s impossible to separate rum’s story from the sugar industry; Sugar was king, rum a mere prince. In the 1700s…
Martinique’s appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) is perhaps the best-known regulation in the rum world of rum. Less known is that Guadeloupe, its sister French overseas department also…
In a surprising move, the US TTB announced today (Dec. 28th, 2020) they will soon expand the set of “standards of fill” for wine and…
My annual end-of-year tradition at Cocktail Wonk is a bit of introspection about my writing directions over the prior twelve months and a round-up of…
Jamaica’s Appleton Estate is among the world’s largest rum brands, with roots going back to 1825 or 1749, depending on your perspective. The history of…
Rum regulations (aka GIs) are a favorite topic here on Cocktail Wonk. My ever-growing archive of GI-related stories, including the Jamaica and Martinique GIs is…
Rum label transparency is of substantial interest to many enthusiasts. No, not whether you can see through the label or not. Rather, transparency in exactly…
Mrs. Wonk and I are overwhelmed by the response to our book, Minimalist Tiki, which we released a year ago. We’ve got some exciting news…
Over on the Facebook Rum History forum, I shared some recent discoveries about perhaps the most sought-after rum in the world: Wray & Nephew 17,…
For fifty years, the rums that the British Royal Navy blended for its sailors has fascinated enthusiasts and historians. Most stories about navy rum endlessly…
Stories about the British Navy’s daily rum ration inevitably include imagery of sailors lined up at the grog tub, emblazoned with “God Save the Queen”…
July 31st, 1970 — a day that lives in infamy as Black Tot day. It was on this day that British navy sailors received their…