On 31 July 1970, British sailors received their very last daily rum ration - the day since known as "the Black Tot Day". This tasting sample comes from precisely that era.
Expert Description
Sample 3 cl B.R.N (British Royal Navy) One Imperial Gallon is a dark Navy Rum from an unknown distillery, likely around 57.15% strength, drawn from an original gallon bottle from around 1970.
The rum comes from one of the original gallon bottles (One Imperial Gallon, equal to 4.54 litres) shipped aboard the British Navy for sailors' daily "Tot of Rum". When the Navy stopped issuing rations in 1970, surplus stocks were recalled and stored - some bottles only resurfaced much later, some sold at auction to a retired naval captain. The bottles were packed in protective wickerwork ("demijohns") and sealed with wax, exactly as they left the factory. It is believed the contents come from Pusser's Navy Strength.
The tradition of rum issue in the British Navy dates back to the capture of Jamaica in 1655. British spirits writer Dave Broom has described how "navy rum" evolved from a raw, powerful spirit into a distinct rum style with its own character, largely thanks to traders like James Man of Deptford, who became the Navy's sole supplier.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Powerful, dark and molasses-heavy with a hint of age.
Palate
Raw and intense, true to the classic navy style.
Finish
Long and warm.
Specifications
Name: Sample B.R.N (British Royal Navy) One Imperial Gallon
Distillery: Unknown, likely Pusser's
Type: Dark Navy Rum
ABV: Approx. 57.15%
Size: 3 CL
Serving suggestion: Neat for tasting
Flavour Profile
Powerful · Molasses · Historic · Raw
Investment Potential
High - full gallon bottles of this type are extremely rare and sought after by collectors, and even a small tasting sample offers access to a rum that is largely unavailable elsewhere.
Did You Know?
On 31 July 1970 - known as "the Black Tot Day" - British sailors received their last ever daily rum ration, bringing an end to a tradition that had stood since 1655.
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