Making Funky, High Ester Rum - Part 1

What makes Hampden taste different from Bacardi? It starts with the yeast. A guide to rum fermentation and esters — Part 1 of a series on funky rum.

May 4 • Matt Pietrek

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April 2026

Patrick Mayers, a Driving Force in Caribbean Rum, Passes Away

Remembering Barbados’ Patrick Mayers, whose decades of service and quiet leadership helped shape the modern Caribbean rum industry.

Apr 16 • Matt Pietrek

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Which Rum Brands May Be Up for Sale?

A possible Pernod–Brown-Forman tie-up raises a bigger question: when portfolios overlap or turmoil hits, which rum brands stay—and which get sold?

Apr 6 • Matt Pietrek

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March 2026

Touring Appleton Estate in 1950

Step inside Appleton Estate in 1950. A rare Wray & Nephew brochure and archival photos reveal how Jamaican rum was made—from cane fields to pot stills.

Mar 9 • Matt Pietrek

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February 2026

France’s Largest Rum Maker Hides in Plain Sight

You know Saint-James and Negrita—but do you know the company behind them? Meet France’s largest rum maker, shaping the industry from Martinique to…

Feb 20 • Matt Pietrek

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Appleton Estate Rum: How the Brand Began

The little-known story behind Appleton Estate Special and how it marked the true beginning of Appleton Estate as a rum brand in the 1940s.

Feb 2 • Matt Pietrek

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January 2026

Parting the Fogg: Mister Fogg Navy Rum — Your Questions Answered

Your Mister Fogg Questions Answered: Sail N° 1 vs N° 2, availability, the blend, and much more.

Jan 5 • Matt Pietrek

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December 2025

Rum Wonk 2025 Wrapped - Top Five Stories, and Five You May Have Missed

From fermentation chemistry to forgotten tiki styles, pricing realities, and industry shakeups—my most-read (and most overlooked) Rum Wonk stories of…

Dec 30, 2025 • Matt Pietrek

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How a Rum Obsession Turned into a Publishing Business

Big changes at Wonk Press in 2025. New books, new approaches, and new countries—how we rebuilt the business behind the scenes.

Dec 16, 2025 • Matt Pietrek

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November 2025

This Man Saved the Royal Navy’s Rum Recipe

A forgotten notebook. A chance encounter. The Royal Navy’s rum recipe stayed secret—until now.

Nov 24, 2025 • Matt Pietrek

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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?

Nov 17, 2025 • Matt Pietrek

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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.

Nov 6, 2025 • Matt Pietrek

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