Talk:Grog
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Sugar
While I don't care for it myself -- what with rum being so sweet already -- I've no problem with sugar in the "modern" recipe -- does that belong here? -- but am troubled by the inclusion in the original version of the stuff. It seems unlikely that Vernon encouraged wasting sugar on grog. I would think the former a precious commodity for the Admiralty and the latter sufficiently precious without. Any source on this claim? Czrisher 23:09, 3 June 2007 (BST)
- The notation about adding sugar comes from the history of grog page (http://www.contemplator.com/history/grog.html). The direct quote is:
- By Vernon's time straight rum was commonly issued to sailors aboard ship - and drunkenness and lack of discipline were common problems. On August 21, 1740, Vernon issued an order that rum would thereafter be mixed with water. A quart of water was mixed with a half-pint of rum on deck and in the presence of the Lieutenant of the Watch. Sailors were given two servings a day; one between 10 and 12 AM and the other between 4 and 6 PM. To make it more palatable it was suggested sugar and lime be added. In 1756 the mixture of water and rum became part of the regulations, and the call to "Up Spirits" sounded aboard Royal Navy ships for more than two centuries thereafter. --LadyShelley 23:16, 3 June 2007 (BST)
- The source is something this side of convincing. He mentions the sugar only once and only as a suggestion, and does not cite his one reference to back up the idea. As to his general dispositiveness, he ascribes to theory of the name deriving from Vernon's cloak. I make no claim to knowledge on this subject, wherefore I do not change the page, but I remain unconvinced. Czrisher 23:52, 3 June 2007 (BST)
- By Vernon's time straight rum was commonly issued to sailors aboard ship - and drunkenness and lack of discipline were common problems. On August 21, 1740, Vernon issued an order that rum would thereafter be mixed with water. A quart of water was mixed with a half-pint of rum on deck and in the presence of the Lieutenant of the Watch. Sailors were given two servings a day; one between 10 and 12 AM and the other between 4 and 6 PM. To make it more palatable it was suggested sugar and lime be added. In 1756 the mixture of water and rum became part of the regulations, and the call to "Up Spirits" sounded aboard Royal Navy ships for more than two centuries thereafter. --LadyShelley 23:16, 3 June 2007 (BST)
While I'm whinging about sugar at all, the page as it stands is contradictory. There's the reference to sugar indicating, at least, that it was original and then Vernon's recipe is given with just spirits and water. Any preferred way to clear up that? Czrisher 01:55, 4 June 2007 (BST)
