Pre Black Tot Day – Original Royal Navy Rum
Following the abolition of the daily tot on 31st July 1970, excess stocks of rum were drawn from their barrels and placed into wicker clad stone flagons. These stocks lay untouched in bonded underground warehouses around the world, remaining the property of the Admiralty.
Only guests at state banquets and royal weddings had the privilege of tasting these rums. Often they were brought from archive warehouses and decanted into ceremonial flagons. Some of this rum was served at the wedding of HRH Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. Andrew served in the Royal Navy aboard HMS Invincible, during the Falklands War.
31st July 2016 will mark the 46th Aniversary of Black Tot Day. 31st July 1970 was the final day a “daily tot” of Navy Rum was given to British Royal Navy Sailors and personnel.
Lamb’s Navy Rum is seen in just about every Supermarket off-license, public house and Working Mens Club (WMC) the length and breadth of England (and quite possible Scotland and Wales too).