American Grog

Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink. Such has always been the obstacle on long sea voyages. Before ships had electricity and refrigeration—in other words, throughout most of history—sailors had to find ways to stay hydrated whilst aboard their ships. Wine and beer quickly turned sour, and water went stale, grew algae, and became slimy. Sometime in the mid-1700s, Vice Admiral Edward Vernon issued an order for rum to be mixed with his ship's water supply to keep it from spoiling. His trick worked, and became standard practice amongst many sailors. The name “Grog” is a nod to Vice Admiral Vernon, who was nicknamed “Old Grog” because of a grogram jacket he often wore. Given his popularity amongst his crew, they dubbed the mixture “Grog” in his honor.