Sunday, February 17, 2013

Grog

Sailors have enjoyed rum for centuries. Pirates mixed it with water and sugar, and sometimes with nutmeg. In 1740 Vice Admiral Edward Vernon of the British Royal Navy introduced a mixture of rum, water, weak beer, and lemon or lime juice to his recruits. Two servings were issued each day. Adding rum helped make the ship's stagnant water more palatable, and diluting the rum was intended to reduce intoxication.

Admiral Vernon was accustomed to wearing a coat made of grogram (a coarse fabric of silk and wool), and sailors nicknamed him Old Grog. His drink soon acquired the name as well. Today, "grog" refers to a variety of alcoholic beverages, not all of which contain rum. 

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of windmills on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012113.htm.

5 comments:

  1. Bill Walker9:23 AM

    Really enjoying your posts. Did y'all get snow? Were you able to have your dance last night?

    Thanks,
    Bill Walker

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    1. Thanks.

      No snow, just rain. Even so we had a small group come out for the dance. If smiles on faces are any indication, everyone had a great time.

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  2. Anonymous12:26 PM

    Next time I see you I'll split a grog with you..

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  3. The pirates did not need the lemon or lime juice to prevent scurvy, as did the British seamen on long voyages. The buccaneers were not so far from handy sources of vitamin C. So they drank bumbo, which you mentioned in your first sentence - a drink without the citrus with a dash of sugar and spice. I just think you should mention "bumbo" as many people don't know about this drink and it sounds good.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the info. I had never heard of bumbo. I agree -- it sounds good. Maybe I'll try it.

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