How did pirates get rum?

Pirate hunters intercepted the ship while the crew was passed out drunk. From 1650 it became mandatory to give a daily ration of rum to British corsairs. This tradition lasted up until 1970. During that time, the captains would even sometimes double the ration of rum.

What is pirate rum made out of?

sugarcane molasses
Rum is a liquor made by fermenting then distilling sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice. The distillate, a clear liquid, is usually aged in oak barrels. Most rums are produced in Caribbean and North and South American countries, but also in other sugar-producing countries, such as the Philippines and Taiwan.

What rum did sailors drink?

Pusser’s Rum: Ready for Your Daily Tot? The rum ration was a practice that spanned over 300 years of naval history. It kept morale high among sailors—and we’re sure a few tears were shed when they drank their final ration on Black Tot Day.

Why did sailors drink so much?

Alcohol served a lot of purposes in the Age of Sail: it was (arguably) healthier than the water available; a way to bond the crew; a way for captains to reward their men for especially hard work; a way to punish the men (by withholding the ration); and a means of ensuring security. Drunk men fall asleep.

Did pirates drink a lot of alcohol?

Strong alcohols such as rum and brandy were often used on long voyages to disinfect stagnant water, and to sweeten the flavour. So you see; pirates were always drunk because even their water had alcohol in it. But why was rum such a staple beverage above cheaper alternatives such as, say, beer or ale you ask?

Why did old sailors drink rum?

Sailors were given a daily tot of rum from 1655 until the ration was abolished, as recently as 1970. Originally it was given to sailors neat when the beer ran out (water was not safe to drink as it became rancid very quickly at sea and it was often taken from polluted rivers, such as the Thames).

Does rum cure scurvy?

In 1740, Admiral Edward Vernon introduced a mixture of one part rum to four parts water, flavoured with lemon juice and brown sugar. The lemon would have provided some much-needed vitamin C to stave off scurvy. The word rum is a contraction of “rumbullion”, meaning a fight or a disturbance.