Page 3 of 4 FirstFirst 1 2 3 4 LastLast
Results 21 to 30 of 32

Thread: Black Tot day

  1. #21
    Keith at Tregenna's Avatar
    Keith at Tregenna Guest

    Default Re: Black Tot day

    “Up Spirits” was the famous call that seamen aboard Royal Navy vessels had heard each day around noon for more than three centuries, signaling them to report to the deck and receive a tot, or shot, of rum.

    Before rum, the Navy had served beer to its sailors. But as the Navy began traveling to all parts of the world, it needed a drink that wouldn’t rot in barrels and would take up less cargo room. According to the Web site of Pusser’s Rum, sailors were first served rum in 1655 and it became standard practice by 1731.

    Sailors were originally served a gill (a quarter of a pint) of rum in the afternoon and evening. The rum helped to boost the spirits of men on a long journey, but often they would become intoxicated by saving their tots and drinking them together. In 1740, Adm. Edward Vernon, nicknamed “Old Grog,” ordered that the rum be watered down before being served so that sailors would be forced to drink it right away.

    The watered-down rum, which also had lime and sugar added for flavor, was unpopular with the sailors and derisively called “grog.”

    In 1831, rum became the official beverage of the Navy. During the 19th century, the serving was reduced to an eighth of a pint and later the evening serving was eliminated.

    The tot played an important social role on the ships. “At sea, rum was a kind of currency, just like money,” says Pusser’s Rum. “To offer a shipmate a portion of one's tot, no matter how small, was deemed to be the apotheosis of generosity.”

    In 1970, the House of Commons, feeling that the crews needed to be alert and sober to operate the technologically advanced equipment, decided to abolish the practice of serving rum, though sailors would be allowed an extra can of beer every day.

    The daily tot was served until July 31, 1970, a day that came to be known as Black Tot Day. Ships bemoaned the dark day in many different ways; some held elaborate ceremonies, and others threw their final ration overboard. The HMS Dolphin paid respects to the tot’s demise by having “a gun carriage bearing a coffin that was flanked by two drummers and led by a piper playing a lament,” says Axford’s Abode.

  2. Likes Denis O'Shea liked this post
  3. #22
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    South Shields
    Posts
    5,203
    Thanks (Given)
    480
    Thanks (Received)
    6078
    Likes (Given)
    4095
    Likes (Received)
    14781

    Default Re: Black Tot day

    In Canadian Pacific on the north Atlantic run on the Beaver boats, wintertime every one on board was issued with a bottle of rum. Cannot remember the brand but recall that most thought it was pretty rough stuff.
    Rgds
    J.A.

  4. #23
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    CHESTER LE STREET
    Posts
    2,326
    Thanks (Given)
    699
    Thanks (Received)
    1254
    Likes (Given)
    12935
    Likes (Received)
    8310

    Default Re: Black Tot day

    Quote Originally Posted by john arton View Post
    in canadian pacific on the north atlantic run on the beaver boats, wintertime every one on board was issued with a bottle of rum. Cannot remember the brand but recall that most thought it was pretty rough stuff.
    Rgds
    j.a.
    how often?

  5. #24
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    W.A.
    Posts
    23,640
    Thanks (Given)
    12847
    Thanks (Received)
    13717
    Likes (Given)
    19100
    Likes (Received)
    76752

    Default Re: Black Tot day

    One a day sounds reasonable Tony. Per man per bottle. JS
    Last edited by j.sabourn; 31st July 2020 at 11:53 AM.
    R575129

  6. #25
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    South Shields
    Posts
    5,203
    Thanks (Given)
    480
    Thanks (Received)
    6078
    Likes (Given)
    4095
    Likes (Received)
    14781

    Default Re: Black Tot day

    Tony
    1 bottle each per voyage, being a good little cadet I gave my bottle to the most deserving fellow crew member, the chief officer
    Rgds
    J.A.

  7. Likes Tony Taylor, Denis O'Shea liked this post
  8. #26
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    CHESTER LE STREET
    Posts
    2,326
    Thanks (Given)
    699
    Thanks (Received)
    1254
    Likes (Given)
    12935
    Likes (Received)
    8310

    Default Re: Black Tot day

    Quote Originally Posted by John Arton View Post
    Tony
    1 bottle each per voyage, being a good little cadet I gave my bottle to the most deserving fellow crew member, the chief officer
    Rgds
    J.A.
    ha ha and how many pigs were flying over the bridge at the time?

  9. #27
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Courtenay, Vancouver Island, Canada
    Posts
    2,246
    Thanks (Given)
    3488
    Thanks (Received)
    2014
    Likes (Given)
    18691
    Likes (Received)
    8695

    Default Re: Black Tot day

    Quote Originally Posted by John Arton View Post
    In Canadian Pacific on the north Atlantic run on the Beaver boats, wintertime every one on board was issued with a bottle of rum. Cannot remember the brand but recall that most thought it was pretty rough stuff.
    Rgds
    J.A.
    Like you John, I cant recall the name of the rum.
    However, it did keep out the cold. And anything else.

  10. #28
    Join Date
    Sep 2021
    Location
    Liverpool
    Posts
    14
    Thanks (Given)
    12
    Thanks (Received)
    11
    Likes (Given)
    18
    Likes (Received)
    51

    Default Re: Black Tot day

    Quote Originally Posted by Tony Taylor View Post
    I have in my drinks cupboard, both Pussers and Woods rum, both claim to be original? which one? or both?
    Tony, as well as Woods 55 roof and both 40 proof and 55.4 Gunproof Pussers I've just finished a bottle of Mainbrace 55.4 proof. After 50+ years since my last tot in RNB Portsmouth it really doesn't matter - even if I could remember.

  11. #29
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    CHESTER LE STREET
    Posts
    2,326
    Thanks (Given)
    699
    Thanks (Received)
    1254
    Likes (Given)
    12935
    Likes (Received)
    8310

    Default Re: Black Tot day

    Quote Originally Posted by George Runacus View Post
    Tony, as well as Woods 55 roof and both 40 proof and 55.4 Gunproof Pussers I've just finished a bottle of Mainbrace 55.4 proof. After 50+ years since my last tot in RNB Portsmouth it really doesn't matter - even if I could remember.
    Good for you George, keep testing it to make sure.

  12. #30
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    W.A.
    Posts
    23,640
    Thanks (Given)
    12847
    Thanks (Received)
    13717
    Likes (Given)
    19100
    Likes (Received)
    76752

    Default Re: Black Tot day

    Don’t get the Hydrometer and the Hygrometer mixed up George ,who wants to drink salty rum ? JS
    R575129

Page 3 of 4 FirstFirst 1 2 3 4 LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •