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…
Category: Cocktail Wonk
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! Despite my lest frequent posting in 2019, it was an extremely busy year, and my first full year focusing…
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…
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…
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…
Your Next Holiday Drink Sensation: The Coquito
A quick post to share a recipe which several people asked me for after seeing 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…
Will the U.S. Get Better International Spirits? A TTB Standards of Fill Update
As any US-based distilled spirit enthusiast knows too well, many great bottles don’t make it to our shores for several reasons. One particularly frustrating reason is bottle sizes. Here in the U.S., the government, in the form of the Tax…
Can the U.S. Recognize Rum Regulations?
As Caribbean rum gains in popularity and rum enthusiasts push back on the “Rum has no rules” trope, a common refrain is “The United States doesn’t recognize rum’s rules.” It’s been said by well-meaning advocates online and at public events…
Your Guide To Winning $2500 with Minimalist Tiki
As you may have seen recently, Reàl Ingredients has generously agreed to supply the prize money for a fun little contest involving our book, Minimalist Tiki. In brief, thirteen bartenders and ten bars are featured in the book, along with…
The Six Essential Tiki Rum Categories
Newcomers to Tiki bartending quickly face an uncomfortable question: Just how many rums do I need? With so many recipes calling for Lemon Hart this, Real McCoy that, and DonQ something else, it quickly becomes overwhelming. I know, because I…