July 28, 2025

#120, Alexandre Gabriel & Matt Pietrek, authors of “The Rum Never Sets”, a history of naval rum (collab dual-cast with The Speakeasy podcast) 28 July 2025

54 minutes

Myself and The Speakeasy Podcast co-host Greg Benson were both in New Orleans last week at the Tales of the Cocktail festival, and so were Alexandre Gabriel, master distiller and blender at Maison Ferrand & Planteray rum, plus Matt Pietrek, spirits author & publisher, who lives in the Crescent City.

AND Alexandre and Matt had just published (with Matt's WonkPress company) "The Rum Never Sets: A History of Naval Rum", so we all decided to get in the pool (where else to tape a podcast about naval rum?!) and talk about Mr Fogg, Alexandre's journey from being a cognac distiller to a rum blender, naval rum, historical research, and a whole lot more - enjoy!

Oh, and we drank Mr Fogg Navy Rum, the latest Planteray rum that pays homage to Michael Fogg, who you will learn about in the podcast, and the book, and HERE: https://planterayrum.com/limited-edition/mister-fogg-navy-rum/

Oh, and HERE the link if you'd like to WATCH this - yep, we recorded video! Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI975RFZXxI

This episode is a dual-cast collab with The Speakeasy, the longest-running spirits / bar / cocktail podcast around, to which you should certainly subscribe, link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3K545VNuOTdTSICk7D2jvB?si=1jQuzjaiTFuZtZM4qjHlGA

Buy The Rum Never Sets: https://www.wonkpress.com/products/the-rum-never-sets?srsltid=AfmBOooimTmyM_c6CZ6aiSmWIAXTX0OdkGo1XM5w6Mylq3wt8Be6HetE

Greg Benson on IG: https://www.instagram.com/100proofgreg/?hl=en

The Speakeasy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/speakeasypodcast/?hl=en

Alexandre Gabriel on IG: https://www.instagram.com/alexandregabriel.masterblender/?hl=en

Planteray on IG: https://www.instagram.com/planterayrum/?hl=en

Matt Pietrek on IG:

Get in touch with Duff!

Podcast business enquiries: [email protected]
(PR friends: we’re only interested in having your client on if they can talk for a couple of hours about OTHER things besides their prepared speaking points or their new thing, whatever that is.
They need to be able to hang.
Oh, plus we don't edit, and we won’t supply prepared or sample questions, or listener or “reach” stats, either, and no, you can't sit in on the interview or Zoom.)

Retain Philip’s consulting firm, Liquid Solutions, specialised in on-trade engagement & education, liquor brand creation and repositioning: [email protected]

Philip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipsduff/
Philip on Facebook: Philip Duff
Philip on X/Twitter: Philip Duff (@philipduff) / Twitter
Philip on LinkedIn: linkedin.com

Old Duff Genever on Instagram: Old Duff Genever (@oldduffgenever) • Instagram photos and videos
Old Duff Genever on Facebook: facebook.com
Old Duff Genever on X/Twitter: ...