British Navy Pusser's Gunpowder Proof Rum
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Pusser’s ‘Gunpowder Proof’ is a traditional Royal Navy style rum produced at original Admiralty strength and in accordance with the Admiralty’s blending recipe last used when the Royal Navy discontinued its daily ration on 31 July 1970.
Clear, dark coppery amber with burnished copper highlights. On the nose, pungent molasses, treacle, toffee, honey and vanilla with oak, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Full-bodied with a more enhanced flavor profile than the lower proof Blue Label. Long finish, and despite its strength, smooth and mellow.
Proof: 109
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This 17-century-style British Navy rum is a history lesson in a bottle: the ship’s “pusser” (purser) once doled out the sailor’s ration of rum, and gunpowder was used to prove the strength of the alcohol (hence “proof ”). Smooth, rich with flavors of toasted orange rind, tamarind and brown sugar; lush and powerful; long and balanced.
For well over 300 years, from before the days of Nelson, wooden ships, and iron men, the Royal Navy issued Pusser's rum daily to the crews of their ships -- and always a double issue before battle. First introduced into the navy in 1655 as a substitute for beer, by 1731 it was in general use. The name Pusser's is nothing more than a corruption of the word "purser". On board ship, the purser is responsible for ship's stores -- including the rum. Everything that came from the purser was called "Pusser's" -- and still is today. Hence the name for Pusser's Rum!
From pirate life on the open sea to Caribbean island paradises, perhaps no other spirit evokes such a romantic history as Rum. Made through fermentation and distillation of molasses or the fresh-pressed juice of sugar cane, Rums range from 20% to over 70% alcohol and come in a variety of tones from clear to dark. Highest quality Rums are generally produced in pot stills and aged in wood, while less expensive Clear or “White” Rums are produced in column stills and bottled without barrel aging. Naturally, Rums form the base of tropical cocktails like Daquiris and Mojitos.