About
An archive of naval rum
Black Tot Day is a documentary site devoted to a single story: that of Royal Navy rum, from the daily ration to the last tot on 31 July 1970.
What this site is
This site gathers what is known of the history of rum in the British fighting navy: the spirit's arrival on board in the middle of the 17th century, the daily ration nicknamed “the tot”, the invention of grog, the Navy Rum style and the end of the tradition on 31 July 1970. The ambition is that of an archive: to bring together, in one place, a clear, structured and lasting account.
The approach
The texts are original: they are written for this site, from facts cross-checked in public sources on the Royal Navy, then reworded and put into perspective. No passage is copied from a third-party source. Where figures or dates vary between periods or sources, the text says so rather than settling the matter artificially.
The aim is not scholarly exhaustiveness but a faithful, accessible reading: to make it understandable why a simple ration of alcohol could embody, for generations of sailors, a whole relationship to the trade and the crew — and why its abolition was mourned.
Sources and images
The facts presented rest on public sources devoted to British naval history and to rum. The visuals are either under free licence or credited to their owner: each illustration displays its credit beneath the caption. Links to rum product pages lead to a retail partner, flagged as such.
An independent project
Black Tot Day is an independent editorial project with a documentary purpose. It represents neither the Royal Navy nor any brand mentioned. Please drink responsibly; the contents of this site are intended for an adult audience and are offered in a spirit of remembrance and historical curiosity.