An Exceptional Collaboration

Driven by the desire to go beyond simplified narratives and reveal the true essence of Navy rum, Alexandre Gabriel, our master blender, and Matt Pietrek, renowned spirits historian, presented a preview at the recent Tales of the Cocktail of the result of an exceptional collaboration: "Exploring 300 Years of Royal Navy Rum and Its Techniques".

With this book, our two authors invite you on a captivating journey through three centuries of British Royal Navy rum history, combining historical accounts, in-depth technical analyses, and personal anecdotes to paint a complete picture of this iconic spirit.

Between Historical Rigor and Technical Approach

To offer you this rigorous and precise exploration, the result of four years of extensive research, the book is divided into two complementary parts.

In the first, Matt Pietrek takes us on a detailed historical journey, exploring the evolution of British rum from its origins. He highlights key elements such as the crucial role of London's West India Docks and the famous Rum Quay in the aging and distribution of Caribbean rum in the 19th century. His narrative covers fascinating aspects such as rum supply for the British army, production techniques of the time, and consumption rituals within the Navy, up to the iconic "Black Tot Day" on July 31, 1970 (i.e., the day when the British Royal Navy tradition of distributing daily rum rations to sailors was officially abolished).

For the second part, Alexandre Gabriel brought his technical expertise by breaking down the seven fundamental pillars that define the unique character of Navy rum, namely the art of blending, double aging, the use of used barrels, dynamic aging during maritime transport, "Navy Active Vatting" in large wooden vats, the issuing proof, and the use of burnt sugar.

More than just an analysis, Alexandre didn't miss the opportunity to apply these seven pillars to develop his own authentic Navy Rum, Planteray Mister Fogg Navy Rum, a synthesis between historical tradition and contemporary know-how...

A Tribute and an Invitation to Discovery

Beyond that, this book is also meant to be a vibrant tribute to Michael Fogg, an iconic figure in rum history, whose expertise has significantly contributed to the understanding of this exceptional spirit.

His influence can be felt throughout the book, making Exploring 300 Years of Royal Navy Rum and Its Techniques a true invitation to dive into a fascinating part of spirits history.

Whether you're a rum aficionado, a maritime history enthusiast, or simply curious to discover the secrets of one of the most complex and history-laden spirits in the world, this book promises to be a captivating read.

It perfectly illustrates our commitment at Planteray to perpetuate traditions while innovating, as evidenced by our latest creation (Planteray Mister Fogg Navy Rum), a direct result of this exciting research, and which we will not fail to present to you in detail in an upcoming "Uncut Story"...

Stay tuned! 😉