CocktailWonk

10/05/2026

Wherever we travel, I first look for the rum bar to visit. In Montpelier, in the south of France, we hit the jackpot at Rhum Runner. A very solid rum list along with a mid-sized tropical-leaning cocktail list, festively presented. Well worth checking out!

01/05/2026

Tonight’s Vieux Carré came to play - hard. Check out the cognac. Yep, the Mai-Kai rum is 2nd place in ABV.
And yes, it slaps.

29/04/2026

An important message for those trying to follow classic Tiki drink recipes correctly. Following a recipe's intent matters more than following "the letter of the law."

16/04/2026

No garnish needed for this round of Hotel Nacional Specials with Beach Vat No 1. Just look at that pineapple foam!

25/03/2026

Tonight, we’re enjoying a Pendennis Club, a classic cocktail featuring gin, citrus, apricot liqueur, and Peychaud’s bitters. Both lemon and lime have historically been used in this recipe, so it’s a pick-your-poison situation.

Specs:
• 2 oz gin (Citadelle)
• 1 oz apricot liqueur
• 0.75 oz lemon or lime juice
• 2 dashes Peychaud’s bitters

02/03/2026

Some backstory on the latest Wonk Press book release. This one's especially meaningful for me because Justin Wojslaw was one of the inspirations for Minimalist Tiki.

Many of you know that, in addition to writing books like Minimalist...

26/02/2026

When I wrote Minimalist Tiki, I sought out recipes from tiki-centric bartenders doing serious work behind the bar without being widely known outside their own cities. Justin was among the first three people who came to mind, and his six recipes in that book are fan favorites.

So we’re thrilled to publish Justin’s book, Coconuts & Carnage: Fifty Fiery Originals from the Emerald City.

The 50 recipes within are thoughtful, modern spins on classic foundations, but don’t rely on exotic or hard-to-find ingredients.

It’s at the printer now, and you can pre-order on the Wonk Press site.

03/02/2026

Hey friends across the UK and EU—

Good news: Minimalist Tiki is now stocked in our UK warehouse, which means far friendlier shipping than before. Our Navy Rum titles are already there too, with more Wonk Press titles on the way.

If you’ve been waiting for a better moment to grab a copy, this is it. Head to the Wonk Press site and we’ll get it on its way to you (nearly) instantly!

24/01/2026

Tropical cocktails at Rumba, Seattle — 2019.

While wrapping up production of Minimalist Tiki, we realized we needed professional-grade photos for the book’s introductory chapters. Our final days in Seattle were rapidly approaching, but we were extremely fortunate to have Justin Alford shoot a series of striking images of cocktails made and styled by Jessica Yến Manzey.

10/01/2026

Flashback to one of my fave Justin Wojslaw photos from the Diller Room in Seattle, 2016.

05/01/2026

There’s been a lot of curiosity—and a bit of confusion—around Planteray’s Mister Fogg Navy Rum, especially the differences between Sail N° 1 and Sail N° 2. I put together a clear, historically grounded explainer covering what changed, what didn’t, how the two releases differ, and availability of the two batches in different markets.

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