Black Tot Day is celebrating its 50th anniversary on 31 July 2020, commemorating the day the Royal Navy abolished the daily rum ration given to sailors.
Rum Rations on board HMS Royal Oak – Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
What is Black Tot Day
Black Tot Day commemorates 31 July, the day the British Royal Navy abolished the daily rum ration given to sailors. Known as the “tot”, the rum ration consisted of 70 ml of a 54.6% ABV rum, that is 1/8th of an imperial pint, given out to sailors daily at midday.
On August 21 1740, Vice Admiral Edward Vernon, known as “Old Grog” for the waterproof grogram cloak he wore, decreed that the ration be diluted with water,
the daily allowance of half a pint a man is to be mixed with a quart of water
and sailors could add sugar and lime to make the drink more palatable, the latter as a means of preventing scurvy which led to the birth of the Grog.
After 300 years, when the Royal Naval tradition came to an end in 1970, the Admiralty Board decreed on July 31st, 1970 that there was no place for the daily issue of rum in the modern navy. At the last call of “Up Spirits!”, sailors wore black arm bands as they were given their last ration of rum and mock funerals with a shrouded coffin took place. The day became know as Black Tot Day.
The ration was originally beer, not rum, given to sailors to boost morale. Since beer spoilt easily during long voyages, it was substituted with rum which was originally drunk neat.
50 Anniversary Black Tot Day 50th Anniversary – 24-Hour Rum Festival
Friday July 31, 2020 marks 50 years of Black Tot Day since British Royal Navy sailors were given their final rum ration. The day will be marked with a series of global celebrations which include “The World’s Greatest Virtual Rum Event”, a 24-hour virtual celebration of all things rum, starting at 10am BST (7pm AEST) on 31st July.
The virtual event will be hosted by Mitch Wilson (Global Brand Ambassador, Black Tot Rum) & Dawn Davies (Head Buyer at The Whisky Exchange). At ‘six bells in the forenoon’ 11am BST (8pm AEST) to commemorate the very moment that the last navy rum ration, the ‘Black Tot’, was served 50 years ago that day.
At 6am BST (3pm AEST) on Saturday, August 1, 2020, Australian’s own Steve Magarry & Tom Bulmer will present “The Rum Rebellion – The History of Australian Rum”. The 24 hour event will conclude with The Tall Ships Toast at 10 am BST (7pm AEST) on Saturday, August 1, 2020. The celebrations can be joined on the Facebook event here.
