grog

grog, a dilution of rum with water, from which is derived the word ‘groggy’ meaning the result of having an excess of the spirit. In 1687, following the conquest of Jamaica, rum was introduced into the Royal Navy in place of brandy as a daily ration. In 1740 Admiral Edward Vernon (1684–1757) issued an order that the daily ration of rum, one pint (568 ml) of neat rum for men and half a pint (284 ml) for boys, was to be diluted by adding a quart of water (1,135 ml), an attempt to reduce the incidence of drunkenness in his fleet. This was issued in two halves, to the tune of ‘Nancy Dawson’, at a grog-tub at noon and 6 p.m. daily before being carried to the seamen's messes in a monkey which it became common practice to bleed, hence the phrase ‘bleeding the monkey’. In the West Indies, to obtain extra rations, seamen also practised sucking the monkey. The words ‘God Save the King (or Queen)’ were traditionally fixed to a grog-tub in large brass letters. Any grog left over in the grog-tub was known as plush.

Dispensing the rum ration was always done in the presence of an officer to protect seamen from being given a short allowance by adding too much water, a practice by which some of the old-time pursers used to enrich themselves. As Vernon was known throughout the navy as ‘Old Grog’ or ‘Old Grogram’—on account of the material (grogram) from which his boat cloak was made—watered-down rum has always been known since that day as grog.

The evening issue of grog was abolished in the Royal Navy in 1824 and the daily ration reduced to one gill, or quarter of a pint (142 ml), in 1850. The issue to officers was stopped in 1881, the popularity of gin having replaced that of rum among them. The issue to warrant officers ceased in 1918. For all other ratings, except for chief and petty officers who drew theirs undiluted, the grog ration was one and a half gills (213 ml) of water to half a gill (71 ml) of rum until 1970, when its issue was totally discontinued.

When the US Navy was reconstituted in 1798, many British practices were adopted, including the serving of grog. However, early in his tenure as secretary of the Navy (1801–9), Robert Smith ordered bourbon whiskey to be substituted for the rum, and US seamen commemorated his action by calling the altered mixture ‘Bob Smith’. Spirits ceased to be issued in the US Navy in 1862. See also splice the main brace, to.