THE LONG RUN OF ROYAL NAVY RUM

To mark the 50th anniversary of Black Tot Day, Adam Headley takes a look at the history of the rum ration in the Royal Navy

EDWARD VERNON (1684-1757) WAS NICKNAMED ’OLD GROG’ AND ORDERED THAT SAILORS’ RUM BE DILUTED WITH WATER, LEADING TO THE BEVERAGE BEING GIVEN THE NICKNAME ‘GROG’ (GETTY)

When it came, the order from the Admiralty Board was… well, sobering.

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