Grog - Definition and Overview

For the fictional alien species the Grog (or sessile grog), from Larry Niven's Known Space universe, see Thrintun and Tnuctipun.

Grog is also a type of clay, see Grog (clay).

Grog is an alcoholic beverage made with water and rum. The date of its invention varies from 1730 to 1741, but most agree that it was invented by British Admiral Sir Edward Vernon (1684–1757). Modern versions of the drink sometimes include lemon juice, lime juice, cinnamon or sugar to improve the taste.

In the British Navy, up until 1970, every sailor was given a daily ration of rum. Rum was favored by the navy, because it took longer to spoil compared to other liquors. However, this caused additional problems, because some sailors would save up the rum rations for several days, then drink them all at once. Due to the subsequent illness and disciplinary problems, the rum was ordered to be mixed with water. This both diluted its effects, and would make it spoil faster.

The sailors named the watered down drink grog, after its inventor — the admiral was nicknamed Old Grog, after the grogram coat he always wore.

Grogs in Games

• Grog is mentioned multiple times as a Pirate's choice of drink in the video game series, Monkey Island. The Monkey Island version of grog is acidic enough to dissolve a pewter mug and is also sold in cans through Coca-Cola-style vending machines.

• Grog is also the least expensive rum commodity in the online game Puzzle_Pirates. Swill and Fine Rum are the mid-grade and high grade rum, respectively.

• In the free online game Kingdom of Loathing a grog is a beverage that can be drunk. It is made by combining the item "rum" and the item "lime". A grog can then further be combined with the item "little paper umbrella" to create the drink called a "fuzzbump".

References

• Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable, Millennium Edition, revised by Adrian Room, 2001