Elixir Distillers has launched a limited edition bottling of Black Tot Rum. Only 6,000 bottles of the new beverage called Master Blender’s Reserve have been made.
The drink has been created by Elixir Distillers’ head blender Oliver Chilton, who described the new addition to the Black Tot Rum family:
“Master Blender’s Reserve takes inspiration from the Royal Navy tradition of perpetual blending, adding new rums to old, each year moulding and developing the rum style and flavour.
“For 2021, we have aimed to find a tropical citrus quality that we hope people will be able to share with friends and loved ones around the world.’’
The bottles were released on 31st July to commemorate Black Tot Day. Sharp-eyed rum fanatics will know that this date is significant in that it marks when the British Royal Navy ended the 239-year tradition of issuing a daily rum ration, or ‘tot’, to crew members.
For the first time, the brand is incorporating Australian rum into the blend to mark 100 years since the Australian rum ration was abolished.
Different styles of rum aged between nine and 24 years from Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad, and Jamaica were also used.
For base of the rum, Chilton took a third of Black Tot’s limited edition 50th Anniversary blend from last year, and re-casked the liquid into ex-Sherry butts and barrels.
The ‘fruity and complex blend’ has been bottled at navy strength, 54.5% ABV, and is available to purchase for RRP £120 (US$164.89) from The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt.
The name ‘Black Tot’ stems from July 31, 1970 when a 300-year-old Royal Naval tradition ended at precisely 6 bells in the forenoon watch (11am) when the last rum ration was issued aboard ships of the British Royal Navy – a day to be forever remembered as Black Tot Day.
For more information, head over to Black Tot’s official website.