£1,500 - £2,500
AN UNOPENED STONEWARE ONE GALLON FLAGON OF NAVAL ISSUE RUM, 1970
contained in wickerwork casing with carry handles and red painted stripe, the top sealed in red wax and dated 12-70 -- 14 x 9in. (35.5 x 23cm.)
Between approximately 1650 and 1970 rum 'grog' was issued every day aboard every Royal Navy ship and submarine. The dilution varied but settled at a 2:1 water-rum ratio around the middle of the nineteenth century. The rum was sourced from sugar plantations in Jamaica and the RN soon held some of the largest and oldest stocks known kept in huge vats at RN bases and distributed in barrels which were in turn drawn as required into flagons such as this for use with a diluting rum tub. The vats were frequently topped up and blended to give consistency and the black naval rum was considered to be amongst the best available with traces of 19th and perhaps even 18th century rum present. The last official grog was issued on 31st July 1970 - "Black Tot Day", with the stocks of rum and supporting paraphernalia sold off shortly afterward. This flagon is believed to have come from the stores at Malta where the RN retained a base until 1979, the red stripe indicates it's for naval use - the army was sometimes given an allowance in unmarked flagons.
Fine overall condition.
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