Do Royal Navy sailors still get rum?

The rum ration (also called the tot) was a daily amount of rum given to sailors on Royal Navy ships. It was abolished in 1970 after concerns that the intake of strong alcohol would lead to unsteady hands when working machinery.


How much rum did British sailors get?

How much rum did sailors drink? From around 1655, a pint of rum was the usual ration handed to each sailor in the Royal Navy. It was served every day, half at 12 noon and the second half at about 5 or 6pm (though the amount decreased in following years).

Who stopped the rum ration?

In 1850, the Admiralty's Grog Committee, convened to look into the problems associated with the rum ration, recommended that it be eliminated completely. However, rather than ending it the navy further halved it to one-eighth of an imperial pint (71 ml) per day, eliminating the evening serving of the ration.


Who supplied rum to the Royal Navy?

As each visiting Royal Navy ship visited Gibraltar, it was the task of Cornford and his general manager, John Kania, to supply individual, wax-dated, corked, wicker-covered demijohns containing full strength (approx 110 proof) to the ships.

Why is there rum in the Navy?

Sailors were given a daily tot of rum from 1655 until the ration was abolished, as recently as 1970. Originally it was given to sailors neat when the beer ran out (water was not safe to drink as it became rancid very quickly at sea and it was often taken from polluted rivers, such as the Thames).


1970: Black Tot Day (End of the Royal Navy Rum Ration)



Why is navy rum so strong?

Ensuring the high strength of the alcohol not only protected the navy from being overcharged for watered-down rum but also ensured rum-soaked gunpowder remained explosive.

Is there alcohol on Royal Navy ships?

Duty-Free Alcohol.

Duty-free alcohol may be sold to WOs, CPOs, POs and SNCOs in HM ships abroad and in ships in home waters which are in Category 1 for Customs privileges (BR 1990, Customs and Immigration Regulations for the Royal Navy).

Why do sailors prefer rum?

Beer, which the Navy served before switching to rum, didn't last when it was hot and humid. Spirits like rum or brandy (which the sailors were served for a time) retained their good taste and didn't spoil, so they might be the only tasty thing sailors got in a day.


What rum did the British Navy use?

Below are tasting notes on the core range of Pusser's rum offerings. Pusser's Gunpowder Proof is an authentic recreation of the high proof rum served on Royal Navy ships for more than three centuries. It is a blend of rums from Trinidad and Guyana.

What rum did the British Navy drink?

Pusser's became the original rum of the British Navy. But it did not take long for the British Navy to realise that if unchecked, the new habit could spell disaster to their authority on the seas. Meanwhile, the sailors suspected that the drink they were served had been watered down.

When did rum running end?

In the United States, the Volstead Act went into effect in January 1920 and placed a ban on the manufacture, sale and transportation of all intoxicating beverages. Both Canada and the United States individually declared war on the rum runners during the 1920s but the “Demon Rum” won the battle in the end.


Why did pirates drink rum instead of water?

Although when rum was added, they found the water became safer to drink. The fact that rum was so easy to obtain, pirates and sailors opted to use rum and ration out the clean water to stay hydrated. This rum and slimy water cocktail became known as grog.

Why are sailors called Jack?

Round about the year 1700, landlubbers began calling sailors 'Jack tars': 'Jack' because Jack was already a popular name for a sailor; 'tars' because long-haired sailors were dipping their locks in tar to make a pigtail.

What did sailors call rum diluted with water?

Grog is a term used for a variety of alcoholic beverages. The word originally referred to rum diluted with water (and later on long sea voyages, also added the juice of limes or lemons), which British Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon introduced into the naval squadron he commanded in the West Indies on 21 August 1740.


What is the most awarded rum in the world?

About BACARDÍ® Rum – The World's Most Awarded Rum

Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.

Is Navy rum strong?

Nowadays the term navy strength refers to spirits, usually gin or rum that are bottled at 57% abv. Navy strength is also associated with Navy Rum, where brands like Woods 100 are 57% and also share a common dark, rich characteristic that is reminiscent of the rums carried on board ship in the 19th century.

What is difference between navy rum and rum?

Rum experts usually agree that navy rum is a blend of aged rums from two or more of the following Caribbean countries: Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, and Trinidad. Some add that it should include rum from the Port Mourant double wooden pot still in Guyana, known for its earthy flavour profile.


How is navy rum different?

Navy rum strength is more than most other rums (like our Blue Label), but not as much as Overproof Rum. The navy officers would test the strength of the rum by mixing it with gunpowder. If the gunpowder ignited, they knew the rum was "proof." Hence the name of our navy-strength Gunpowder Proof.

What kind of rum did sailors drink?

Thanks to him, today you could taste many versions of the drink that served seamen for centuries — Pusser's Gunpowder Proof, Pusser's Rum Original Admiralty Blend, etc. Produced from British Virgin Islands, Trinidad and Guyana, Pusser's is a blend of five stills.

What happens when you drink rum every day?

One study showed that there's an increased risk of developing liver conditions too if you drink more than the guidelines recommend regularly. The key is moderation. You can't expect to drink loads of rum every day and miraculously become super healthy. Make sure you eat a balanced diet and getting plenty of exercise.


What alcohol do sailors drink?

Grog, a simple mixture of rum and water, soon became a staple item for sailors all over the world.

Is alcohol sold on navy ships?

(a) Except as may be authorized by the Secretary of the Navy, the intro- duction, possession or use of alcoholic beverages on board any ship, craft, air- craft, or in any vehicle of the Depart- ment of the Navy is prohibited.

Is there a bar on Royal Navy ships?

A new pub, known as the Queen's Head, was christened last week aboard the Queen Elizabeth and will be available to officers and senior enlisted during the ship's maiden transit of the Atlantic, a journey that began Aug.


Is there alcohol on Royal Navy submarines?

"Although alcohol is available on board Royal Navy ships and submarines, its consumption is extremely limited and the RN's promotion of healthy living, coupled with the professionalism of modern sailors, means that fewer sailors drink at sea than ever before," he added.