Sunday, November 7, 2010

A Pirate she be


Arr Mattie
The Pirate's Grog
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The word grog refers to a variety of alcoholic beverages. The word originally referred to a drink made with water or "small beer" (a weak beer) and rum, which was introduced into the Royal Navy by British Vice Admiral Edward Vernon on 21 August 1740.
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Modern versions of the drink are often made with hot or boiling water, and sometimes include lemon juice, lime juice, cinnamon or sugar to improve the taste.
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More information shows water and rum mixed together was often called Grog. A dram (a small amount) of rum was often added to a sailor's water ration. A proper grog often included lime juice to help to stave off scurvy and a measure of cane sugar to help kill the bitterness of the water.
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The sailors rum ration was added to the water for a more important reason than just killing the taste of the water. The rum was added to water to prevent hoarding of the rum ration. By adding the rum to the water, the alcohol would be diluted and lessen the chance of the sailor becoming drunk.
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In addition, the rum rations was given to sailors to help them keep their spine during battle. A little rum helped to steady the nerves of the gun crews.
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Despite the rationing of rum, sailors would often find ways to have a stash of illegal alcohol aboard ship. It may have been smuggled liquors from a shore leave or made from an illegal still stashed somewhere on the ship. Alcohol always remained a problem aboard ship.
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Pirate Grog Recipe
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Add approximately one ounce of fine rum (the rum used in the Royal Navy was an exceptional quality alcohol) to tin or glass of water (7 to 9 oz.)

A more complex recipe
1 (oz) of Rum
the juice of half a lime
one or two teaspoons of cane sugar
and fill the rest of your tin or mug with water.
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When it was made on board ship it was usually made in a large barrel called the grog tub and then rationed out to the sailors. Grog gets its name from Old Grogram, the nick name of British Rear Admiral Edward Vernon who order his sailors rum ration diluted to prevent hoarding and drunkenness.
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Many claim to make a traditional Navy grog recipe, there are only several accepted forms. The Royal Navy's grog recipe includes lemon juice, water, rum, and cinnamon.
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A commonly-found recipe in the Caribbean includes water, light rum, grapefruit juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, cinnamon, and honey. - Yep that's what we had on Tobacco Caye, Belize
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Up here in the great nort'woods Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer mixed with Schlitz Beer - We give you Schlipabst
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Now with the news that Pabst Brewing Company is for sale again; Conan O’Brien took a shot at Pabst, Old Milwaukee and Schlitz during his comedy bit last night. Here’s what he said:
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“The brewery that makes Pabst Blue Ribbon, Old Milwaukee and Schlitz is up for sale. However, the new owner must promise to uphold the brewery’s proud tradition of only brewing beer that tastes like ass.” -Conan O’Brien
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Conan is no longer an honorary member of our hot wing club; which regularly serves the stable of three, PBR Old Mil. and a real gut wrencher Schlitz on Monday and Thursday wing nights.
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We Kruger paddlers have another name, "Glacier Sipp'n Water" - It's all good and tastes the same after 4 or 5!

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