Matt Pietrek is a professional spirits writer, educator, and consultant. He is among the most recognised and cited writers covering rum today. His passion extends to acting as the Community Envoy for the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers Association (WIRSPA).

Pietrek’s Cocktail Wonk website covers all aspects of the spirited world, from history, to spirit science, to cocktails. His writing has been nominated in the Best Writer and Best Publication categories at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards four years running.

With his wife, Carrie, he wrote and published Minimalist Tiki: A Cocktail Wonk Look at Classic Libations and the Modern Tiki Vanguard, a Top Four nominee at the 2020 Spirited Awards. He’s also penned a forthcoming book on the history of British Navy and London Dock rums.

On social media, he is the founder of the Rum History and High Ester Rum Geeks Facebook groups, and his Instagram following numbers over 35,000. He and his rum collection currently reside in New Orleans.