The Chronicle
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20 results across all types
- news
Making Funky, High Ester Rum Part 4 - Hacking Ester Creation With the Cousins Process
Fermentation alone can't make super funky rum. In 1906, a British chemist in Jamaica hacked ester formation at distillation using chemical jujitsu. Here's how.
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Making Funky, High Ester Rum Part 3 - Bacteria and Muck
Yeast gets all the credit, but bacteria are behind the most extreme flavors in weird, high-ester rums. What's a muck pit? Part 3 of a 4-part series explains.
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Making Funky, High Ester Rum Part 2 - Dunder and Acid
How do Jamaican distillers make funky, high-congener rum? Part 2 explores dunder, and cane acid, the ingredients that push fermentation beyond the ordinary.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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 Réunion.
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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.
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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.
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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 2025.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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Hurricane Melissa’s Impact on Jamaica’s Rum Makers
After Hurricane Melissa tore across Jamaica, the island’s rum makers face an uncertain road ahead. Here’s what we know so far—and what could come next.
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What’s the Story with Ron del Barrilito?
Unmasking Puerto Rico’s most debated rum. Is Ron del Barrilito flavored, legit, or even the island’s oldest? The truth might surprise you.
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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.
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Equiano Rum - Dueling Ownership Bids
Dueling bids for the brand's assets and a founder’s exit —Equiano Rum battle spills into the spotlight.
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Equiano Rum - What Happened?
Ian Burrell announced he’s no longer representing Equiano Rum. UK government filings tell more of the story, including a possible Uncle Nearest connection.