Honestly, how could the first drink recipe on this site NOT be grog? Don’t let the name be deceiving. “Grog” is a pretty cool word, but it rhymes with frog and bog, so you might think that any drink with that name would be kind of disgusting. However, I assure you, this drink is far from that. This drink is essentially rum with sugar and juice, and a little water to stretch it out.
In the days of long sailing voyages, where water rations would go foul and drinking seawater would quickly be the death of you, alcohol was the best thing that stayed preserved. While “honest” sailors may have had to choose between rancid barrels of water and seawater, free-living pirates frequently kept rations of rum and wine aboard. These rations however, could run out, so they were stretched out by adding water (rum kills the rotting barrel taste, right?). Add a little sugar and some citrus juice to stave off scurvy, and you have a pretty serviceable and delicious drink. It’s up to you whether you want to use a real lime or lime juice, but I definitely suggest using brown sugar instead of white granulated sugar.
Ingredients
- 1oz lime juice (fresh-squeezed or from a bottle, your choice)
- 1oz brown sugar
- 1oz of dark rum
I usually use Barbancourt rum from Haiti, because I’ve traveled there so often and it’s what I like, but there are many other rums out there (Sailor Jerry, Kracken, Gosling’s, The Captain, etc.)
- 4oz of water
Glass Type: In current day, the “old fashioned” is preferred (but that doesn’t mean you can’t mix this in a piratey mug.
Directions
Add your brown sugar to the shaker, then add 1 of the 4 ounces of water first, to dissolve the sugar.
Add 1oz of your choice dark rum.
Add 1oz of lime juice
Add the remaining 3 oz of water
Add some ice
Shake, pour, and strain into your glass.
Add ice and serve.
Note: some prefer this drink poured over crushed ice, but I find it quite refreshing with whole cubes, so it’s up to you.