View BlogBlack Tot Rum
Once upon a time the Royal Navy was issued beer, wine and spirits in the place of tea, coffee, cocoa and even water. But when the British fleet captured the island of Jamaica in 1655, half a pint of rum a day became the ration of choice.
This was later mixed with a quart of water (becoming grog) at the behest of Admiral Edward Vernon – sailors didn’t get accused of being blind drunk for nothing! The mixing took place daily in the presence of the Lieutenant who ensured that no man was done out of his fair share.
The issue was further reduced to a two and a half ounce tot in the nineteenth century but the 300 year old tradition finally came to an end on 31 July 1970 at precisely six bells in the forenoon watch – a health and safety measure no doubt!
Forget Black Monday, that day has been forever enshrined in naval history as ‘Black Tot Day’.
Imperial gallon stone flagons were filled and sealed under HM Customs & Excise supervision, sitting silently for nearly 40 years save for State occasions and Royal weddings.
Now, to coincide with the 40th anniversary of this memorable day in British Royal Navy history, the very same rum is being introduced as a limited release called Black Tot Last Consignment.
The brew comes in a traditional glass rum bottle sealed with black wax and presented in a black walnut box along with a certificate of authenticity. It also comes with a replica silver lined copper tot cup which is a good job because at £600 a bottle you certainly don’t want to be drinking it all at once.
