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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
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Matt Pietrek
18
5
1
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
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Matt Pietrek
12
1
2
Jamaica Rum's 2024 GI Revisions Paused Per Court Order
A Jamaican court has put enforcement of Jamaica's 2024 rum GI revisions on hold, pending further hearings.
Sep 30, 2025
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Matt Pietrek
12
1
Mai Tai Rum(s): Myths and Mistakes
The Great Mai Tai Rum Debate - Are we overthinking it? Some historical context provides guidance.
Aug 30, 2025
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Matt Pietrek
28
5
2
Jamaica Rum Styles Primer
“Jamaica rum” once said it all. Today, with every producer making styles from unaged to long-aged, it’s time to break down the substyles.
Aug 18, 2025
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Matt Pietrek
28
10
1
Dunder, Muck, and Acid - Demystifying Jamaica Rum's Secret Sauce
Jamaica rum's bold flavors stem from misunderstood fermentation components. Here, we'll examine dunder, muck and acid and learn how they create unique…
Jan 20, 2025
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Matt Pietrek
19
7
1
Jamaica Rum Industry Family Tree
A handy infographic to make it easy to see the relationship between Jamaica rum brands, the distilleries that make them, and who owns them.
Dec 16, 2024
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Matt Pietrek
10
2
Jamaica's Rum GI Changes - Overview and Analysis
There’s news today from Jamaica regarding small but important revisions to the country’s rum geographical indication, aka GI. In what follows, I will…
Oct 10, 2024
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Matt Pietrek
8
10
1
Wray & Nephew White Overproof Shortage - What's the Story?
Rum enthusiasts have recently had trouble finding Wray & Nephew White Overproof rum on store shelves, so wonder if there’s a production shortage or if…
Jul 11, 2024
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Matt Pietrek
12
6
Jamaica Rum Distillery Map and Notes
Jamaica is a haven for rum fanatics and visitors want to know where all the rum distilleries are and if they accept visitors. This story covers all…
Jun 3, 2024
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Matt Pietrek
12
2
Revisiting Jamaica's Clarendon Rum Distillery
Despite being Jamaica’s second-largest distillery, Clarendon is often overlooked by Jamaican rum enthusiasts, despite making quintessentially funky rum…
Dec 22, 2023
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Matt Pietrek
6
Inside Jamaica's Worthy Park Rum Distillery
A photographic deep dive into operations at Worthy Park rum distillery in Jamaica, along with an overview of the distillery’s history excerpted from the…
Dec 11, 2023
•
Matt Pietrek
7
5
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