The Navy Grog is a classic tiki cocktail that has a rich history and has been served in Polynesian-themed restaurants and tiki bars for many years. It was first created by Donn Beach, a legendary figure in the tiki cultural fad of the 1940s and 1950s, and was later reimagined by Trader Vic and numerous other imitators[1].
The name “Grog” itself has a historical origin. It originally referred to a drink made with water and rum, which was introduced into the Royal Navy by British Vice Admiral Edward Vernon on August 21, 1740. The nickname “Old Grog” was given to Vernon because of a grogram cloak he wore, and the nickname became attached to the drink. Modern versions of the drink are often made with hot or boiling water, and sometimes include lemon juice, lime juice, cinnamon, or sugar to improve the taste[2].
The original Don the Beachcomber Navy Grog recipe includes fresh lime juice, white grapefruit juice, club soda, gold Demerara rum, dark Jamaican rum, white Cuban or Puerto Rican rum, and honey mix. It is served very cold in a large, broad-based Old Fashioned glass, into which a frozen snow cone of shaved ice has been placed, so that the customer sips the Grog through a straw that runs down through the cone. The Trader Vic’s version omits the snow cone but places the crushed ice in the Trader Vic’s Mai Tai glass, with a half a partially squeezed lime, a large sprig of mint, and a rock candy stick[3][5].
There are several variant recipes for the Navy Grog, with most of them using fresh lime juice and grapefruit juice along with the rums. Some recipes also add passionfruit juice, guava juice, or club soda water. The sweetening agent can vary, with some recipes using honey mixed with unsalted butter, while others use honey mixed with water. Unlike other famous tiki cocktails such as the Zombie or Mai Tai, Navy Grog uses no exotically flavored syrups such as orgeat or falernum[3].
The Trader Vic’s Navy Grog Mix is no longer available for purchase, but there are recipes available that seem to duplicate it. The recipe includes light rum, gold rum, and 151 demerara rum or dark rum, freshly squeezed lime juice, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, Allspice Dram, and simple syrup. It is recommended to be enjoyed with Crab Rangoon and hot mustard sauce, spare ribs, egg rolls, etc[4].
The Navy Grog is a potent and flavorful tiki cocktail that has been enjoyed by tiki enthusiasts for decades. It has a rich history and has been reimagined and adapted by various bartenders and tiki bars to create unique and delicious variations of this classic drink.
