Greetings from Ukraine.

[barbagris]

Haven't tried this. First of all, we don't have coastal coconut water here. Second of all, I believe good spirits need to be enjoyed straight. I really can't force myself to use anything great for mixed drinks.

Apparently, some of my friends didn't have a problem with this. Found an empty bottle of Glenlivet 18 y/o and numerous glasses with coke and whisky untouched the morning after my birthday party. Bastards.

I agree that good stuff is best savoured neat (and without ruddy ice) .

But Navy Rum - generally - is designed to be diluted a bit - and maybe not surprisingly (though incorrectly I freely confess) often with sea water. We have suddenly been able to get Coconut Water here in "low cost" supermarkets (I guess given the number of South Americans here - the demand is such that it is worth their while). Adding a sprinkle of sea salt is an alternative.

I did see an "interesting" cocktail listed on the KRAKEN web - SQUID BITE - One for @Nat67 too. Very much a Winter drink with mulled Cider. I miss German Glühwein at this time of year.

 

[Nat67]

I agree that good stuff is best savoured neat (and without ruddy ice) .

But Navy Rum - generally - is designed to be diluted a bit - and maybe not surprisingly (though incorrectly I freely confess) often with sea water. We have suddenly been able to get Coconut Water here in "low cost" supermarkets (I guess given the number of South Americans here - the demand is such that it is worth their while). Adding a sprinkle of sea salt is an alternative.

I did see an "interesting" cocktail listed on the KRAKEN web - SQUID BITE - One for @Nat67 too. Very much a Winter drink with mulled Cider. I miss German Glühwein at this time of year.

That was the old me krakken makes my intentions far outweigh my abilities!

 

[rocketjohn]

Rum, Bourbon, Scotch...its all good.....vodka is dangerous though, it goes down too easy! Though somehow, products of the local stills are smooth as buttah but I don't mind them at all. You still have be careful though!

 

[barbagris]

That was the old me krakken makes my intentions far outweigh my abilities!

Oh monsieur - just one little ...................

I'm not forcing you into it - but I feel that a certain stock of scrumpy would splice the Krakens mainbrace. Every so often when my old bones creak a bit.
We pirates have to drink Rum - Baint natrul not to.

 

[Navigator]

I agree that good stuff is best savoured neat (and without ruddy ice) .

But Navy Rum - generally - is designed to be diluted a bit - and maybe not surprisingly (though incorrectly I freely confess) often with sea water. We have suddenly been able to get Coconut Water here in "low cost" supermarkets (I guess given the number of South Americans here - the demand is such that it is worth their while). Adding a sprinkle of sea salt is an alternative.

I don't think it was designed to be diluted but it was. To me Pussers is just a very good rum and no stronger than most others. A pint of beer and a tot of rum a day was the ration in our Navy as it was in yours. I didn't realize that the RN quit that in 1970.

I had rum and beer aboard a NZ ship, HMNZS Waikato at Pear Harbor back in the late sixties. She was a beautiful frigate and brand new. I few years ago I reconnected with one of her crewman who I'd lost touch with over the years.

Darn, I just found a video of the sinking of Waikato. To we old Sailors watching a ship go down is always difficult to watch, even an intentional sinking or to see one's ship hauled off for scrap. They opened her sea cocks and blew the bottom out of her for an artificial reef. A tip of the hat to the Waikato and gallant crews that served their country in her over the years. I shall drink a tot of rum this evening in memory of this grand old lady of the sea.

 

[barbagris]

I don't think it was designed to be diluted but it was. To me Pussers is just a very good rum and no stronger than most others. A pint of beer and a tot of rum a day was the ration in our Navy as it was in yours. I didn't realize that the RN quit that in 1970.

Found this when searching

Sailors require significant quantities of fresh water on extended voyages. Since desalinating sea water was not practical, fresh water was taken on board in casks but quickly developed algae and became slimy. Stagnant water was sweetened with beer or wine to make it palatable, which involved more casks and was subject to spoilage. As longer voyages became more common, the task of stowage became more and more difficult and the sailors' then-daily ration of beer began to add up.

Following England's conquest of Jamaica in 1655, a half pint or "2 gills" of rum gradually replaced beer and brandy as the drink of choice. Given to the sailor straight, this caused additional problems, as some sailors saved the rum rations for several days to drink all at once. Due to the subsequent illness and disciplinary problems, the rum was mixed with water. This both diluted its effects and accelerated its spoilage, preventing hoarding of the allowance. Vernon's 1740 order that the daily rum issue of a half pint of rum be mixed with one quart of water and issued in two servings, before noon and after the end of the working day, became part of the official regulations of the Royal Navy in 1756 and lasted for more than two centuries. This gives a ratio of 4:1 (water:rum).

iirc Navy Strength Rum is a bit stronger by design to better support being watered down.

Anyway we shall see - Following the advice of @dr.P.O.N. I now have Kraken and Rumbullion (not Navy) to "test".

 

[Navigator]

Found this when searching

Sailors require significant quantities of fresh water on extended voyages. Since desalinating sea water was not practical, fresh water was taken on board in casks but quickly developed algae and became slimy. Stagnant water was sweetened with beer or wine to make it palatable, which involved more casks and was subject to spoilage. As longer voyages became more common, the task of stowage became more and more difficult and the sailors' then-daily ration of beer began to add up.

Following England's conquest of Jamaica in 1655, a half pint or "2 gills" of rum gradually replaced beer and brandy as the drink of choice. Given to the sailor straight, this caused additional problems, as some sailors saved the rum rations for several days to drink all at once. Due to the subsequent illness and disciplinary problems, the rum was mixed with water. This both diluted its effects and accelerated its spoilage, preventing hoarding of the allowance. Vernon's 1740 order that the daily rum issue of a half pint of rum be mixed with one quart of water and issued in two servings, before noon and after the end of the working day, became part of the official regulations of the Royal Navy in 1756 and lasted for more than two centuries. This gives a ratio of 4:1 (water:rum).

iirc Navy Strength Rum is a bit stronger by design to better support being watered down.

Anyway we shall see - Following the advice of @dr.P.O.N. I now have Kraken and Rumbullion (not Navy) to "test".

I think we're probably about 3-4 centuries apart in our observations on rum in the Royal Navy.

And my local retired Navy friends and I all drank a rum toast to Waikato this evening.

 

[barbagris]

I think we're probably about 3-4 centuries apart in our observations on rum in the Royal Navy.

Reincarnation is a *****!. Heave Ho! m'hearties.

 

[Paul Bryant]

Bonjour et bienvenue, Montreal qc.Ca. It is now -24c and the wind is howling outside. spring is almost just around the corner.

 

[TriumPhil]

I see that your enviable Kiwi Summer has you coiled for action, Paul, and not just another brick in the wall...