5 years ago, the pirate community lost our mate Captain Greywolfe to further adventures in the great beyond. Today we remember our friend.
During his life among the landsmen he was known as James Banks Outman II, and he was a good man.
James was also a devotee of the spirit that fueled the Royal Navy for more than 300 years: rum.
Captain Greywolfe posted his first rum review to Facebook on March 26 of 2016, and for the next 3 years he continued publishing reviews on a weekly publication cycle.
According to his bride Laura Jean Outman, James started making the reviews in the hope of discovering his “favorite” rum. Recording the rums in a review was just his way of remembering the flavor of each rum.
Laura confessed that she expected for James’ enthusiasm for this project to eventually fade, he energetically continued his reviews until his final review on August 30, 2020, for Rum Fire Jamaican White Overproof Rum.
While he did not expect to receive the accolades that his reviews garnered, he did eventually express a desire to see all of his reviews published in a book.
For James, that day never arrived.
He went to meet his maker on the 10th of October, in the year 2020.
After his death, James’ father Jim helped Laura turn the dream of a book into reality, and together they published From the Eyes of a Pirate, A Collection of Rum Reviews by Captain Greywolfe.
The final two reviews in the book were made by James’ friends Chad Gilbert and Holly Apley, for Hamilton 86 Demerara River Rum and Tennessee Shine Company Coconut Rum, respectively.
The last page of the book notes:
Captain Greywolfe’s review of the Club Caribe Gold Puerto Rican Rum that he posted to Facebook on October 14, 2017 was republished in the National Pirate Lifestyle Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 6, dated June 2020.
His review of Cockspur Fine Rum that he posted to Facebook on November 4, 2017 and his review of Kill Devil Rum with Pecans and Honey that he posted to Facebook on February 9, 2018 were republished in the National Pirate Lifestyle Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 7, dated July 2020.
On August 12, 2020 when James learned of the first republication he proudly texted his mother “Mom I’m now published.”
While James took the next step in life’s journey, Captain Greywolfe continues to abide with every pirate who sailed and shared a drink with him.
Rest in Peace, James.
Fair winds and following seas.
