The history of alcohol is full of fascinating characters and legends that have achieved pseudo-mythological status. From the ancient origins of beer in Mesopotamia to the long-standing myth surrounding absinthe that persists to this day it seems that wherever you delve into the world of drinks you don’t have to look far before you’re met with an intriguing story. One such tale involves British sailors and their apparent penchant for pyrotechnics.
| Channel | Publish Date | Thumbnail & View Count | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
 DEUCE AND GUNS | 2018-11-01 20:32:47 |  6,901 Views |
Whiskey Proof With Gunpowder
For centuries the British Royal Navy included booze in its sailors' rations (the practice stopped in 1970). As the story goes sailors wanted to make sure they got a fair supply of booze to offset the grim living conditions at sea. They would mix a small amount of gunpowder with booze and try to light it to see if their "stock" of alcohol was good enough. If the gunpowder didn't light the ration was too diluted. If it did they had "proof" that their alcohol wasn't too diluted with water. (Thus proof became the standard for alcohol content.)
You might assume these sailors were drinking rum a beverage steeped in legend and lore. The sugary Caribbean drink dates back to the 17th century and has become almost synonymous in the cultural canon with the golden age of piracy and sailing (and rum-splattered sailors). But as with many tales from the high seas there’s a gray area surrounding the history of rum sailors and gunpowder.
There’s a problem with ascertaining the truth behind the practice of “proofing” alcohol with gunpowder especially when it comes to rum the drink most associated with the story. In fact it’s such a popular belief that modern-day Pusser’s Rum offers a “gunpowder-proof” rum inspired by the legendary test. Unfortunately history can’t bear out the stories of British sailors lighting their rum on fire before guzzling it down.
