In this episode, Stephen Shellenberger takes us on a deep dive into Boston Apothecary, his rum and spirits-focused blog that has become one of the largest digital repositories of historic research on rum production.

We discuss:

The origin story of Boston Apothecary

The historical significance of Rafael Arroyo, and why Stephen is so fascinated with his work

What’s the deal with “rum oil,” the aromatic body that Arroyo prized above all others

Stephen’s presentation on grand arome rums at Lallemand and WIRSPA’s Alcohol School conference in Jamaica

Fission yeast in rum

And a whole lot more!

Relevant Links:

Check out Boston Apothecary here

Here’s the “Top Ten Blog Moments in Rum” article mentioned in the show (a great starting place for exploring the blog)

All of Arroyo’s available works online in one place

Arroyo’s “The Aroma of Rum,” an excerpt from which is read during the show

Stephen’s presentation on grand arome rum (with annotated commentary) from Alcohol School

Further reflections on the Alcohol School presentation

Another view on fission yeast from Richard Seale that is worth checking out

Stephen’s article on the single use glass issue in spirits mentioned at the end of the show

42: Diving into Boston Apothecary, the Internet's Deepest Rum Rabbit Hole (w/ Stephen Shellenberger)

The Rumcast