2022 British Navy Pussers Rum Deptford Dockyard Reserve Navy Proof Rum (700ml)

Voted World's Best Pot & Column still Rum at the World Rum Awards 2020.

In 1742, Deptford Dockyard was the Royal Navy Victualling Board’s main spirit depot; housing 30 storage vats that accommodated and aged more than 250,000 gallons of rum. From here, they supplied the Fleet with a flavourful blend of ‘Empire’ rums from British Navy suppliers in the Caribbean. While little is known about early Admiralty specifications, the blend was done “in such proportion as experience had shown was preferred by the men.”

As is now popular rum folklore, the final daily rum ration was served on 31 July 1970 at 6 bells in the forenoon watch (11am), ending a Royal Navy tradition of more than 300 years. Some sailors wore black armbands, tots were 'buried at sea' and in one navy training camp there was a mock funeral procession complete with black coffin and accompanying drummers and piper.

To commemorate the 52nd anniversary of Black Tot Day, as it became known, Pusser’s have introduced a limited-edition Deptford Dockyard Reserve at Navy proof, featuring a blend of high-ester distillates from Caribbean countries in Great Britain’s naval past (Guyana [Demerara], Trinidad, Barbados and Jamaica). Offered at the same strength that bulk underproof rum was historically stored at the Dockyards, the hefty ABV is intimidating until you taste it. Aged for a minimum of three years in x-Bourbon barrels but tasting much, much older, Deptford Dockyard is a medium-bodied rum, shy on the nose while boasting beautifully integrated flavours of Christmas cake, orange zest and festive spices that draw comparisons to heavily sherried single malt. Its restrained power dials down with liquorice bullets, chico lollies, cinnamon buns, brandy sauce and lingering molasses cake. Easily approached uncut, think of it as a cross between richer, darker Demerara styles and high ester Jamaicans - less the extreme funk. 54.5% Alc./Vol.