Before modern hydrometers existed, the British Navy tested rum strength by pouring it over gunpowder and lighting it. If the powder still ignited with a steady blue flame, the strength was correct. Gunpowder Proof is Pusser's tribute to that exact strength.
Expert Description
Pusser's Gunpowder Proof is a Rum from Barbados and the British Virgin Islands, bottled at the original admiralty strength of 54.5%.
The rum is built on the same historic recipe as the house's standard British Navy expression, but is bottled at the precise "gunpowder proof" strength the navy used for its gunpowder test, back when alcohol meters didn't yet exist. The blend follows the admiralty's original recipe, as used until the Royal Navy officially discontinued the daily rum tot on 31 July 1970.
The higher strength gives a more concentrated flavour experience than the standard expression, with a deeper, more warming character that underscores the rum's roots as a spirit built to hold up on a ship for months at a time.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Pungent molasses, treacle, caramel, honey and vanilla, complemented by oak, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.
Palate
Full-bodied and robust with caramel, banana bread, spice cake and roasted nuts.
Finish
Long, warming and lightly smoky with lingering molasses and oak.
Specifications
Name: Pusser's Gunpowder Proof
Bottler: Pusser's Rum
Region/Country: Barbados / British Virgin Islands
Type: Rum
ABV: 54.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Charred oak barrels
Serving Suggestion: Neat or in a robust Navy Grog
Flavour Profile
Powerful · Molasses-forward · Spiced · Warming · Robust
Did You Know?
The name Gunpowder Proof comes from the historic method sailors used to verify their rum tot hadn't been watered down by a dishonest quartermaster: mixed with gunpowder, the rum still had to be able to ignite the flame.
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