BLACK TOT DAY CELEBRATED AT BLIND TIGER BAR ON COWES PARADE

Naval personnel in Cowes for Cowes Week, together with members and volunteers at the Portsmouth Naval Museum and supporters of Mermaid, celebrated Black Tot Day 2024 at the Blind Tiger Bar and Restaurant on Cowes Parade with a toast to “Up Spirits”. Black Tot Day marks the ending of the daily Rum ration to the Navy on 31st July 1970 when the Royal Navy’s daily Rum ration of 1 gill was ended by the UK Government. Tastings of Isle of Wight Distillery HMS Victory Navy Strength Rum were enjoyed, and Xavier Baker from Isle of Wight Distillery gave a resume on the Rum making and how the partnership with the Royal Navy Museum had come about. Through the partnership between the Isle of Wight Distillery and the Royal Navy Museum a percentage of the profits from the Isle of Wight Distillery Navy Strength Rum was traditionally 57% proof because at that strength should any Rum leak from the barrels on board ship into the gunpowder used to fire the cannons, the gunpowder would still ignite. Following an agreement between Isle of Wight Distillery, makers of the Mermaid range, and the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth, Isle of Wight Distillery HMS Victory Navy Strength Rum at 57% proof was launched in 2018. Whilst maturing in the barrel the Rum had oak stave from HMS Victory along with some of the copper panels of the ship incorporated. Previously, Isle of Wight Distillery HMS Victory Navy Strength Gin had proved popular.