The perfect article to write about on a monday morning, that is for sure! This carribean drink has found its way today into desserts, cocktails and even as a marinade for meat! Here at Brossac Braderie, we will show you some of the history when it comes to rum!
Crack open the bottle!
The exact origins of this drink are as hazy as someone after drinking an entire bottle of rum. Some say it was the Jamacians who made it, some say it was the plantation slaves. Some counts even document it coming from Cyprus! The common agreement is that it came from the West Indies, with the first records coming from Barbados in 1650.
It comes from distilling sugarcane molasses (a byproduct of turning sugarcanes into sugar) and did not spoil as quickly as beer or water. Hence, when the royal Navy took over Jamaica in 1655, they switched their drink of choice from French Brandy to Rum. People in the Trade Triangle who were paid in brandy were then paid with rum. The main reason was because it did not spoil as easily and it was easier to store, allowing more space for cargo.
Rum was also cheaper than other bottles, making it more attractive to both the Navy and pirates at the time!
The Daily Tot
A sailor’s life was very tough, making this tradition one of the highlights of their day. Between 11am and noon, the sailors would gather for their daily ration of rum, which was about 10 ounces. It helped boost morale, reduce stress, add some flavour to their food and even ward off scurvy.
Occassionaly, an additional ration of rum was sometimes granted, with the order of “splicing the mainbrace”. This was issued usually when the sailors have won a battle, any royal celebration or after an inspection of the fleet.
In 1740, an admiral by the name of Edward Vernon, created a watered down version of Rum named Grog. It was 4 parts rum, 1 part water and was implemented to reduce the chance of intoxication since they would save their rations and drink it all at once. Some counts mention that sugar and lime juice were added to the rations as well.
Black Tot Day
As the Navy developed, their technology did so too. They started incorporating complex machinery, which required sober people to operate it. Therefore, on July 31st, 1970, they announced the final tot, titled “Black Tot Day”. Sailors wore black armbands and dumped their last ration into the seas in commemoration.
Did you know that in Australia, the only military takeover to happen was in 1808, because the governor banned Rum as a medium of exchange? It was named the “Rum Rebellion”.
It is unfortunate that the daily tot died out, however we do have a flask of one of the oldest british rum companies! The Purser’s rum flask harkens back to the days of the daily tot, where the ‘purser’ was the guy in charge of distributing rum. Through the ages, the person became known as the purser. Celebrate the tradition by getting yourself a flask!