We marked the 40th anniversary of Black Tot Day with a re-enactment of the daily rum tot on July 30 next to HMS Victory on at the first of three Portsmouth Navy Days celebrating the senior service.  Black Tot Day (31st July 1970) mourned by many, was the day the Admiralty ended the centuries old tradition of issuing a daily tot of rum to serving sailors of the Royal Navy. The final Up Spirits took place between 11am and 12 noon when the last measure of Pusser’s Rum was served to the crews of Royal Navy ships.

The Pusser’s Rum re-enactment crew, dressed in naval gear of Nelson’s period, were accompanied by the Exmouth Shanty Men singing famous old sea songs such as ‘All for me Grog’ and ‘Nelson’s Blood’.  The songs recall the creation of grog (a mix of rum, lime juice and sugar) and the death of Nelson whose body was shipped back to England in a rum cask to preserve it after the battle of Trafalgar. Legend says that the barrel was dry when opened. Thirsty sailors had bored a hole and, literally, drunk Nelson’s blood.

Black Tot Day ended an enshrined 300-year tradition in which the daily rum measure shrank from half a pint a day from its introduction in the 17th century (the standard measure right up to the latter part of the 19th century), to one eighth of a pint (equivalent to three measures) of 54.5% ABV Caribbean rum. The rum was watered down in the Scuttlebutt and either drunk on the spot or collected in a rum fanny for the sailors’ mess.

But while the tradition has gone, as you all know, Pusser’s Rum survives!  In appreciation to the Admiralty for allowing me to launch Pusser’s Rum to the public in 1979, Pusser’s  donates a royalty on every bottle sold to a Tot Fund to provide on-shore amenities for serving sailors.  To date, more than £1 million has been donated and is its largest source of income other than the interest earned by the Fund’s capital.

March 15, wind about 7 knots from the NE and Tortola as seen from Little Harbor, Peter Island. A lazy, warm day as seen from my floating office.The beauty of the place makes up for the hard work needed to stay afloat these days.

Another day at the office, Little Harbor, Peter Island, March 15th: “Morning Pelican Patrol” – Anchor out, stern-to-a-tree – and enjoying the sun and sea as I work on my laptop.

We decided recently to try to expand our tropical & nautical apparel business from our home here in the Caribbean to the U.S. We hope to be able to achieve this by selling directly to independent, specialty retail stores – some that might be near you.

The problem is that we don’t know specifically where to go. Some of you will probably have spent some time in a Pusser’s Store, or have some familiarity with our apparel.  If you could think of one or two retailers that you believe might be good prospects for Pusser’s products, we’d be absolutely grateful. Please just let us know the name of the store and the town.

Thank you for your support of Pusser’s, and for any assistance that you might be able to give us. Your input will be invaluable, and will really be appreciated.

Geoff enjoys a Painkiller and gives his book "Walking on Water" to Pusser's as a token of his appreciation for the Painkiller Welcome Reception the night before.

Geoff Holt, after a 28-day, 2,700-mile voyage, recently become the first quadriplegic to sail solo across the Atlantic.

Sailing Impossible Dream, a 60-foot specially built catamaran, he completed his voyage on Thursday, January 7th after setting off from Lanzarote in the Canary Islands on December 10, 2009. On his arrival at Tortola he was given a hero’s welcome by hundreds of wellwishers. The BVI governor and deputy prime minister also turned out to greet Geoff. All of us at Pusser’s were very pleased to throw him a Painkiller Welcome Party on the dock at Manuel Reef Marina, the home of the BVI’s Sailability programme and the BVI Watersports Centre.

Geoff had been expected to arrive in Tortola on December 27, but unhelpful weather and mechanical problems delayed them (he had a non-sailing carer and videographer onboard with him). Five hundred miles from the finish line the generator on Impossible Dream stopped working properly, leaving Geoff having to work the hi-tech yacht manually.

It also meant he couldn’t cook anything onboard in order to save vital fuel.

Geoff’s historic voyage has been extensively covered in the UK including a live broadcast on BBC News when he arrived at Cane Garden Bay and in major newspapers.

The Daily Telegraph reported: “Poignantly, he returned to the exact scene of the diving accident that paralysed him 26 years ago – Cane Garden Bay, on Tortola island.

“The arrival has been everything I expected and more,” Holt said.

“The welcoming committee has been amazing, I am surrounded by a flotilla of boats and yachts that have all come out to meet me. It’s emotional and I have a tear in my eye.”

This is the fourth time Holt has sailed the Atlantic, but the first time since the accident in 1984.

Congratulations Geoff from the entire Pusser’s crew!

Geoff’s Bio

By the age of 18, Geoff had sailed in excess of 30,000 miles at sea, including three trans-Atlantic crossings and several solo voyages. His career was cut short in 1984 by a life changing accident which left him paralysed from the chest down. Diving into shallow water broke his neck causing a complete spinal cord injury and he has used a wheelchair ever since.

He has remained passionate about sailing and keen to support any initiative which provides sailing opportunities to other disabled people. In 1995, Geoff was a founding Trustee of the national disabled sailing charity RYA Sailability and now, through a network of more than 150 Sailability clubs and groups, more than 20,000 disabled people a year experience the freedom of sailing in the UK.

For more than 15 years he headed up regional marketing teams for two of the world’s largest firms of accountants. He holds a degree in Fine Art Valuation and has sat on just about every sailing committee representing disabled sailing both nationally and internationally.

More than 20 years after his accident, Geoff became the first disabled person to sail single-handed around Great Britain in an expedition he called Personal Everest.

“Sailing has given me so much in my life. It was my livelihood before my accident and it was to be my saviour after it. The freedom I experience on the sea is like no other; I am free of my wheelchair and free of my disability. When I am on the water, it makes me feel alive and any sailor, regardless of their ability, will know exactly that same feeling. Sailing is my life.” says Geoff.

On his return from Personal Everest, Geoff published his autobiography Walking on Water to critical acclaim.

Personal Atlantic was his latest adventure and raised funds for The Ellen MacArthur Trust.

For more information: http://www.geoffholt.com

Photos courtesy of Todd VanSickle

Me (left), Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Sir Alan Massey, Commander Paddy McClurg, General Secretary Royal Naval Association

On the eve of Black Tot Day, 30 July, I handed over a substantial cheque to navy charities.

The cheque was accepted by the Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Sir Alan Massey in the Great Cabin of Lord Nelson’s Flagship HMS Victory on behalf of the Royal Navy Sailors Fund, otherwise known as the Tot Fund.

This is an annual donation made by Pusser’s Rum to the Royal Navy Sailors Fund which was set up by the Admiralty in recompense for discontinuing the tradition of serving a daily rum tot on ships of the Royal Navy. The Fund provides amenities for serving  members of the Royal Navy and Pusser’s is the largest contributor to the Fund, outside the original bequest.

It was on 31 July 1970, known as Black Tot Day, that the serving of the daily rum issue was discontinued. However, in 1979 I obtained the original blend for Pusser’s Rum from the Admiralty and commercially started blending Pusser’s Rum for public consumption.  In appreciation, Pusser’s Rum makes a donation from worldwide sales to the Sailors Fund. To date, donations have reached over £1million.

In recognition of my long relationship with the Royal Naval Association, I was presented with the Association’s Admiral Lord Nelson Medal by Commander Paddy McClurg, General Secretary of the Association.

The Sydney Rum Club logo

Our foray into the Australian market is going well.  The following story by Wes ‘The Captain’ Morgan was recently posted on the Australian web site http://4bars.com.au:

On Monday, 3rd August, a nearly full tasting room for the latest Sydney Rum Club was very positive news indeed. Upon arrival attendees were treated to the classic Painkiller cocktail – a potion of Pusser’s Rum, coconut cream, orange juice and nutmeg. The room consisted of liquor reps, media personalities, bartenders (keen to expand their knowledge) and rum lovers alike.

Julian Hartley from Southtrade International presented the naval rum Pussers from the British Virgin Islands. The presentation started with an official message from Charles Tobias (the owner of Pussers) to mark the occasion and to wish us a ‘Pussers’ evening, which instilled a great sense of pride within the room. The actual owner of the brand took time out to thank all the rum clubbers for their support and interest.

A brief history was given prior to the tasting. Attention-grabbing stories where retold about the British Navy’s rationing and the daily tot, the origin of ‘Grog’, Charles Tobias saving Pussers from extinction also the somewhat questionable tradition of ‘tapping the admiral’ and drinking ‘Nelsons blood’ were amongst some of the memorable stories told by Julian.

The two rums on offer for the evening were the 42% Pussers 3 year old Blue Label and the super premium 40% Pussers 15 year old Red Label. Upon tasting the 3 year old was likened to ‘Golden Syrup.’ The drink was smooth, strong with bold woody characteristics derived from the 200 year old staves in the rare wooden stills. With a pleasant warm finish this was indeed a wonderful rum experience. After explaining ‘the angels share,’ Julian had the rum lovers thinking about behaving themselves, hoping to be offered more of the 15 year old which was a truly memorable experience. With its full mouth feel, almost syrupy consistency, obvious wood and toffee notes, this is a rum many of the participants were quite keen to have a second go at, just to be sure their taste buds where not fooling them.

With such a high standard of product and presentation this time round, the rum club members will be very keen to set sail for their next rum club experience. Sydney Rum Club organiser has whispered of up and coming attractions and happenings that will in no doubt keep us rum lovers excited and coming back for more. One thing’s for shore, this dirty ol’ sea dog will be there for certain.

‘Up Spirits’

MAR off Rhodes - the start of my long voyage with Pusser's Rum

The commercialization of Pusser’s Rum had its beginnings on board my yacht MAR, in 1978.

For 330 years Great Britain’s Royal Navy issued a daily rum ration to its sailors. This daily allotment was known as the ‘tot’, and its issue and the ritual that went with it was one of the longest running traditions in maritime history. The rum issued was a very special rum called Navy or Admiralty Rum, or sometimes PUSSER’S, a corruption of the word purser, after the officer in charge of the daily issue. This issue of rum was stopped on July 31st, 1970 – a day known to the navy as “Black Tot Day”.

On departing Gibraltar in 1978 while heading out to open sea to cross the Atlantic to Barbados, a small pump quit working. A Royal Navy vessel was conveniently close at hand, and so I pulled alongside to enquire if they had the part I needed.  I was invited on board by the captain, who not only had the part, but also an old extra two-gallon jug full of PUSSER’S RUM that he gifted it to me for my forthcoming long voyage. After a few tipples, I made it down the ladder to the deck of MAR and cast off for Barbados.

Now until this time, PUSSER’S RUM had never been sold or offered to the public, and if a connoisseur obtained a ‘tot’ or two, he valued it for a very special occasion. Now I had an almost full jug for myself and my crew for our Atlantic crossing that we were about to begin.

During the 14 days that it took to reach Barbados, the jug was emptied. I had never tasted such good, full-flavoured rum, so good in fact that I decided that the commercial launching of PUSSER’S RUM as a worldwide brand would be my next project.

Two years later, after much persuasion, I was able to convince the Admiralty that naval charity could benefit from the commercial sale of the rum as indeed it has. I managed to obtain the formula and the right to use the White Ensign and the name on the label, and started to bottle and sell PUSSER’S to the public for the first time in 1980.

PUSSER’S makes a donation to the Royal Navy Sailor’s Fund, a naval charity, from the sale of each bottle. This PUSSER’S contribution has become the fund’s largest source of outside income.

Soggy Dollar Bar, BVI - Birthplace of the Pusser's Painkiller

The infamous Pusser’s Painkiller® had its start at the six-seat Soggy Dollar Bar on a long stretch of white sand beach at White Bay on the island of Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands. There’s no dock, so the usual way in is to swim. Of course, your dollars get wet – hence the name: Soggy Dollar Bar.

When all this started, the bar with its four adjoining cottages was owned by an English lady, Daphne Henderson. Boaters, including myself, came from all around to sample her tasty Pusser’s Painkiller® for which she’d become locally famous. The fact that I had gone to Great Britain’s Royal Navy and gotten permission to commercialize the rum in 1980 made me more curious about this deliciously concocted recipe made with Pusser’s Rum.

Daphne Henderson and I became good friends, but in spite of our friendship, and no matter how hard I tried, she refused to divulge her secret recipe for the Pusser’s Painkiller®. Two years passed, then late one Sunday afternoon at the conclusion of a long session of Painkilling, I somehow managed to get one of her concoctions back through the surf and over the gunwale into my boat, and ultimately into my kitchen on Tortola where I live.

There I went to work, trying to match her flavor as closely as possible with my own recipe which I finally worked out to be “4-1-1″ ratio – four parts pineapple, one part cream of coconut and one part orange juice – adding Pusser’s Rum to suit.

The following Sunday, I returned to the Soggy Dollar Bar for another afternoon of West Indian food, Painkillers and swimming. Shaking the water off after my swim ashore, I announced to Daphne Henderson that I’d finally broken her secret, “At last, Daphne, I have the Painkiller recipe which I promise to not divulge to anyone if you tell me that I’m right.”

“If you’ve got it, what do you need anything from me for?” she replied smiling as she continued to josh me about not being able to come even close. “Wait and see,” I told her, and in a few minutes, mixed one of mine and started to taste it against hers.  I discerned a slight difference, but thought my mixture was better, not quite so sweet as hers, and told her so. Understandably, she insisted that hers was better and challenged me to a contest.  I accepted, and the bet was on for $100.

There were about ten patrons around the bar. I ordered two rounds: one that Daphne made, and one that I made to my recipe. We marked the cups and proceeded to test. My recipe won 10 out of 10 taste-tests! They preferred my version to hers. She humorously insisted that somehow I had paid everybody off to win. Of course, I hadn’t, and vehemently denied her charges. I took payment on the bet in the form of 40 Painkillers which the crowd all drank to celebrate the occasion.

Soon after, I started promoting the Pusser’s Painkiller® in the two Pusser’s bars I had at that time on Tortola.

From this modest beginning, the fame of the Pusser’s Painkiller® has spread throughout the boating and sailing communities of the Caribbean and the U.S., and is probably the most popular mixed rum drink amongst sailors today in the West Indies. And it continues to spread throughout many other parts of the world.

Thanks to Daphne Henderson! …the inspiration behind the Pusser’s Painkiller®.

PUSSER’S PAINKILLER® RECIPE

The Painkiller® is a blend of Pusser’s Rum with 4 parts pineapple juice, 1 part cream of coconut and 1 part orange juice served over the rocks with a generous amount of fresh nutmeg on top. You have a choice of numbers 2, 3 or 4, which designate the amount of Pusser’s Rum! Cheers!

* Painkiller #2 … 2 parts Pusser’s Rum
* Painkiller #3 … 3 parts Pusser’s Rum
* Painkiller #4 … 4 parts Pusser’s Rum