Prior to 1740 PUSSER'S® Rum was issued to the navy men 'neat', that is undiluted. Their ration was 1/2 pint twice daily, and the men were oftimes drunk because of it. Admiral Vernon (pictured here) the hero of Portobello and the Commander in Chief West Indies was much concerned with the drunkenness and the severe punishment that followed for those who became unruly. Thus he issued  his infamous Order to Captains no. 349 on August 21, 1740.  His order refers to the "unanimous opinion of both Captains and Surgeons that the  custom of the seaman drinking their allowance of rum in drams, and often at once, is attended with many fatal effects to their morals as well as their health.

 

"...You are hereby required and directed...that the respective daily allowance of rum be mixed with the proportion of a quart of water to a half pint of rum, and that the men be given extra lime juice and sugar that it be made more palatable to them." This was to  be mixed in a scuttled butt kept for that purpose and to be done upon deck, and in the presence of the Lieutenant of the Watch who is to take particular care to see that the men are not defrauded in having their full allowance of rum.

 

The men affectionately nicknamed Vernon "Old Grog" on account of the grogram cloak he often wore on the quarter deck.  They were incensed that he'd watered their rum, and thus named it contemptuously Grog from the name they'd already provided Vernon.  Thus true Grog is PUSSER'S Rum with water, lime juice and brown sugar!  The first of all cocktails!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Letzte Bearbeitung dieser Seite: 31. August 2010