Bosun Bird

History

Adapted from a recipe created in 2022 by J. E. Clapham of Clapham Cocktails. Mr Clapham recommends this cocktail is made using "a medium-ester rum such as the Berry Bros Jamaica rum from their Classic Range, or Plantation Xaymaca."

Also known as Tropicbirds, Bosun Birds are medium-sized white tropical seabirds found in all the major oceans across three varieties: Red-billed; Red-tailed and White-tailed. They own their Bosun Bird name to the era of the sailing ship when their call was said to resemble the sound of a bosun's whistle.

Bosun is the oldest rank in the Royal Navy, the most senior rate of the deck department and responsible for the components of a ship's hull. As the deck foreman, the boatswain plans the day's work and assigns tasks to the deck crew.

A bosun's whistle is a pipe with a hole opened and closed by the hand of the player to change its pitch. Historically, the high-pitched boatswain's call was used by the bosun to pass commands to the crew when their voice could not be heard over heavy seas. In modern-day use, it's best known for piping aboard an important guest. Part of this ceremony, "manning the side", originates in summoning a party of sailors, known as "side boys", to hoist the visitor aboard using a bosun's chair when the weather was too rough for the use of ladders.