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Grog

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (139)
Grog image
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
2 fl oz Navy rum (ideally circa 55% alc./vol.)
1⁄2 fl oz Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
1⁄2 fl oz Sugar syrup 'rich' (2 sugar to 1 water) 65.0°Brix
1 1⁄2 fl oz Chilled water/mineral water
2 dash Angostura Aromatic Bitters

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

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How to make

Glass

Photographed in a Libbey DOF 14.25oz

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill a DOUBLE OLD-FASHIONED GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of lime wedge.

Method

  1. SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
  2. STRAIN into ice-filled glass.

Garnish

  1. Garnish with lime wedge.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Grog contains 232 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.9 standard drinks
  • 18.27% alc./vol. (36.54° proof)
  • 26.6 grams of pure alcohol

Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

History

For over 300 years, the British Navy issued a daily 'tot' of rum, sometimes with double issues before battle. In 1740, as an attempt to combat drunkenness, Admiral Vernon gave orders that the standard daily issue of half a pint of neat, high-proof rum be replaced with two servings of a quarter of a pint, diluted 4:1 with water. The Admiral was nicknamed 'Old Grogram' due to the waterproof grogram cloak he wore, so the mixture he introduced became known as 'grog'. Lime juice was often added to the grog in an attempt to prevent scurvy, lending British sailors their 'limey' nickname.

The 'tot' tradition, which was started by the British Navy in Jamaica in 1665, was finally broken on 31st July 1970, a day known as Black Tot Day, although by then, the 'tot' had been reduced to a meagre two ounces.

I hate to let the truth ruin a good story, but historians now say that grog emanates from an earlier period than Old Grogram.

Review

Strong, flavoursome navy rum with a splash of scurvy-inhibiting lime. Properly mixed at the right dilution, this is a great drink. However, too many and you'll be groggy in the morning.

Previously, I had chosen to use Muscovado or Demerara sugar syrup in this cocktail, but on reflection and retrial, I now find that the assertive flavours of dark sugar overly dominate the nuances of the Navy rum. Hence, I now favour bog-standard cane sugar syrup or even cane juice sugar syrup.

As per Chris Lamb's comment below, you may want to scale your daily tot back a tad to a mere 18.5 grams of alcohol, in which case, to fill a standard 12oz old-fashioned or rocks glass, shake:
40ml (1⅓oz) Navy Rum
10ml (⅓oz) Lime juice
10ml (⅓oz) Sugar syrup (2:1)
30ml (1oz) Chilled water
1 dashes Aromatic bitters

Cocktail of the day:

31st July 2026 is Black Tot Day

Variations/similar cocktails

Grogs were probably originally sweetened with honey, and you may want to try a Honey Rum Grog with honey in place of the sugar syrup. I've tried both and prefer sugar to honey in this cocktail, although I'm partial to a blend of both sweeteners in my Grog. Also also try the Tiki classic, Navy Grog

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Makes a minimum of 11.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


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Gallery

Comments & Discussion

Tea and sympathy
This is a great refresher at the end of a hot day when the sun’s sinking below the yardarm. Yesterday was “Black Tot Day” here so I used my best Navy Rum from the Portsmouth Distillery. Simon’s method is perfect; I checked for sweetness first before adding the syrup. 5*
score: 1
Rob San
I've got to source some navy rum but made this with Smith & Cross 114 & loved it. The water took the edge off the 114, but not the rum flavor. I may even float .25oz Q151 on the next one
score: 0
Andre Derailleur Premium Member
So the tot of rum with lime and sugar well and truly predates the fantasies about the origin of the daiquiri!
score: 1
Mookie Premium Member
This really is a great drink. I used Smith & Cross, and only 1oz of water. Next time I might use crushed ice and top with a few dashes of angostura.
score: 3
BRUSH
Same same smith & cross works wonders on this
score: 1
John Hinojos Premium Member
Substituted agave syrup for the sugar syrup. Use Hamilton Navy Rum. Got a tropical drink with pineapple and banana flavours.
score: 1
Benjamin Kay
Made it with Mount Gay XO, I can't believe how good this is. I can't wait to try it with a navy rum. Highly reccomend!
score: 1
John Hinojos Premium Member
Substituted guava puree/syrup for the sugar syrup. With the strong rum flavour it was not obvious, but there was a hint of guava at the end of the sip.
score: 1
John CARR Premium Member
Rich, tangy, and deeply flavoursome. You definitely need to get the balance of ingredients and dilution right. Good limes are a must, as I quickly found out! My first experiments with Pussers rum are, as they say, most satisfactory 😊.
score: 1
John CARR Premium Member
Also with thanks to Chris lamb for the slightly more abstemiously proportioned version!
score: 1
Chris Dimal
There really is a particular tang to this drink. Very dry and intense when with a strong rum.
score: 1
Avery Garnett
Did it with 3:1 worthy park 109 (for the proof) and el dorado 8 (for a little demerara body) and a muscovado syrup. Like yeah, this is good but...it's just watered down, black-just-like-my-soul rum. I can appreciate simplicity, but I don't think this one holds up. It's not as raw? honest? as an old fashioned template is, but it's not as deep and interesting and layered as modern Tiki.
score: 0
John Doe
I unfortunately can't get any Navy Rum where I live, so what would you say is the closest substitute? A 2:1 mix of OP and aged rums is around Navy strength, but how would it compare in terms of taste?
score: 1
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
For the aged rum, if you're able to get hold of some Demerara rum, that would give you some of the weight and body of a proper Navy rum.
score: 3

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Difford’s Shop logo
$3.50 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 11.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Visit Difford’s Shop USA

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