Grog: The Drink Of The High Seas

Which alcohol do you associate most with pirates or sailors? Our guess is that you said rum. But did you know that in the Navy at least they couldn’t just drink it neat? It was most often consumed as a cocktail of sorts called grog. Here we will learn more about this drink and will also give you a recipe for it!

The Story of Grog

Best Mixers For RumGrog was conceived and popularized by the Royal British Navy. They gradually became the most powerful and controlled most of the world’s seas. The irony of being on a ship is that you are always surrounded by water but can’t drink any of it. Fresh water therefore becomes one of the most important provisions. But if you put water in one place for too long, it gets nasty and mouldy. Since it was stored in wooden barrels, it did not just taste disgusting but also posed a health risk. Sailors came up with a brilliant solution: just drink alcohol instead.Sounds wild but it was actually practical. Alcohol sterilizes most germs so it can be stored for much longer without causing disease. Initially, the Royal British Navy used to provide beer to its sailors. However, the colonization of Jamaica introduced them to a new drink which would be the signature beverage of all seafarers: rum.Also Read: The Best Wine Pairings With Your Favorite TV ShowsInitially, those on board navy ships would be given an allowance to drink neat. This allowance would have an ABV of around 54.%. Now just imagine a group of dudes on a ship drinking this. There were bound to be drunken fights, throwing up and hangovers. Which probably happened a lot. On a naval ship, where you cannot afford to screw up too much, this became a problem.Enter Admiral Edward Vernon. A no-nonsense commander, he led the British Navy to victory in several battles. This veteran wanted to remove all hindrances to peak performance. He passed an order for rum on all naval ships to be diluted with water. According to the order passed, 284 ml of rum would be mixed with 1,100 ml of water. This would be given to each crew member in the morning and at the end of the working day. For Admiral Vernon, day drinking was a strict no-no This ensured that the sailors could stay hydrated and get just enough of a buzz to keep up their morale on the ship. Vernon added in his order that crew members could add lemon juice and sugar to their rum allowance if they wanted to make it taste better. These additions soon became a part of the rum ration, as the lemon juice helped the sailors get their daily dose of Vitamin C.Admiral Vernon was a bit of a fashionista too and would often wear a coat made of grogram cloth. Due to this, he was affectionately called Old Grog by naval members. The rum mixture he introduced to the navy was called grog in his honour. It became immensely popular and associated with naval life. Aside from the booze in it, the lemon juice and sugar in grog helped create a tasty and refreshing beverage that was ideal to drink at the end of a long and hard day on board.Unfortunately for the British navy, rum ceased to be a ration in 1970. But after two centuries of their influence all over the world, grog became very popular. In countries such as Australia and New Zealand, grog was one of the few forms of alcohol accessible to the working class for a while. Due to this, grog became a synonym for booze over there.Also Read: Champagne Vs Prosecco: Everything You Need To Know

This Is How You Make Grog

You don’t need to be in the navy to enjoy grog. It technically counts as a cocktail and can be made by anybody. It is a refreshing drink with sweet and citrus flavours which will make you feel like you are at sea. It is especially enjoyable at night, with a few cubes of ice.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz dark rum
• ½ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 oz water
• 1 tsp brown sugar

How To Make Grog

0. Add the brown sugar in a glass.
0. Pour a small amount of warm water dissolve the sugar.
0. Add the lime juice.
0. Put in the rum and water.
0. Stir or shake well.
0. Add ice if you prefer and enjoy!

Summing UpGrog was an integral part of navy life for two centuries. Just imagine being able to drink as part of your job! Though it is no longer consumed on ship, any of us can make it anytime with easily available ingredients. In case you’re planning a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed party, this would be the ideal drink to serve. Cheers!

FAQs

What Is Grog?Grog is a mixture of rum, water, lemon juice and sugar. It was consumed by the Royal British Navy as part of their daily rations.Why Did Sailors Drink Rum?Sailors would drink rum because plain water could get contaminated on board. Alcohol does not get contaminated as it kills germs.How Did Grog Get Its Name?Grog is named after Admiral Edward Vernon, who was nicknamed Old Grogram. It was he who passed a decree for rum to be diluted with water as part of daily naval rations.Is Grog Easy To Make?Yes, grog is very easy to make. All you need to do is mix rum, water, brown sugar and lemon juice well.Can You Get Drunk On Grog?Grog does contain rum and if you have a lot of it then yes, you can definitely get drunk.

The Story of Grog

Grog was conceived and popularized by the Royal British Navy. They gradually became the most powerful and controlled most of the world’s seas.