Plantation Rum Is Changing Its Name. Is That Enough?

Plus a rum expert’s summer cocktail tips...The word “plantation” has been used in food branding to conjure images of a romanticized, whitewashed American South. (Think “Plantation Mint Tea” or “Plantation Chicken.”) Food writer Osayi Endolyn, whose work inspired our 2019 episode on this topic, “When White People Say Plantation,” returns to discuss Plantation Rum’s name change, as well as similar recent changes by Bigelow Tea and Aunt Jemima. Later in the show, we talk with bartender and rum expert Shannon Mustipher, author of “Tiki: Modern Tropical Cocktails.” She explains why she doesn’t have a problem serving Plantation Rum, and walks us through some of her favorite rum-based cocktails. These drinks pair especially well with difficult conversations. Get 500+ more great Sporkful episodes from our catalog and lots of other Stitcher goodness when you sign up for Stitcher Premium: www.StitcherPremium.com/Sporkful (promo code: SPORKFUL). Transcript available at www.sporkful.com.