Brahm's Foine Grog
So, ye feelin' like a tipple o' the old Kill-Devil? Let me show ye how to make it.
Grog came out of necessity, more than the desire for a drink to please the masses. Fresh water onboard a ship was a valuable commodity, and even when stored, would develop a bad taste from microorganisms, mold, etc. Not necessarily in the case of pirates, but in crews of Naval vessels a sailor was allotted a small ration of rum each day. This ration, in its early days was 1 gill, or about 148 milliliters. To prevent a crewmember from hoarding his rum (and increasing the chance of becoming drunk on duty), it was diluted with water. Thus the invention of grog served a twofold purpose; cut the bitter taste out of tainted water, and control the flow of rationed rum onboard a vessel. The daily grog ration was a tradition that lasted almost 300 years in Britain's royal navy, and finally ended on "black tot day" in July of 1970. Grog is reported to have been invented by British Admiral Edward Vernon, and takes its name from the grogram cloak he wore. Traditionally, the rum was diluted 3 to 1 with water. My blend is an experiment taken from several grog recipes I encountered on the Internet Channel. It be sweet and sneaky, and it'll bite back, if ye don't be careful with it.
Recipe for 2 quarts. Scale up or down as needed.
1 1/3 cups spiced rum
1 cup brown sugar
3 teaspoons lime juice
Dilute to 2 quarts with water. Store in a charred white oak barrel for at
least 1 week, rotating every couple of days. Drink with yer best mates!
Brahm Lyndonset
Tom Healy
Pirates of the Lost Cause
Swift o'er the waves the Nereids flew,
Where Vernon's flag appear'd;
Around the shores they sung "True Blue,"
And Britain's hero cheer'd.
A mighty bowl on deck he drew,
And filled it to the brink;
Such drank the Burford's gallant crew,
And such the gods shall drink.
The sacred robe which Vernon wore
Was drenched within the same;
And hence his virtues guard our shore,
And Grog derives its name.
-Doctor Thomas Trotter, Notes and Queries (1850)