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Speciality Drinks Ltd this week launched Black Tot Last Consignment onboard HMS Belfast in London |
UK. On 31 July 1970, a 300-year-old Royal Naval tradition ended when the last rum ration was issued aboard ships of the Royal Navy, a day which has become known as Black Tot Day.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary, Speciality Drinks Ltd this week launched a limited-edition piece of Royal Naval history onboard HMS Belfast, the last remaining stocks of the original Royal Naval rum from 1970, Black Tot Last Consignment.
Black Tot Last Consignment is a blend of pot and column distillates principally from Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad.
With the withdrawal of the rum ration, the Royal Navy had little use for the remaining rum stocks which were filled into wicker clad stone flagons and transferred to HM bonded warehouses where it lay undisturbed, being only drawn upon for use on state occasions and royal weddings.
For the last four years Speciality Drinks Ltd Founders Sukhinder and Raj Singh have set about acquiring the majority of the remaining stocks allowing them to be brought together and bottled as Black Tot Last Consignment in celebration of 300 years of Royal Naval tradition.
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Speciality Drinks Ltd Founder Sukhinder Singh is confident of the the brand’s appeal in travel retail |
Speciality Drinks Ltd Founder Sukhinder Singh spoke to The Moodie Report at the HMS Belfast launch of Black Tot about plans for the brand in travel retail.
He said: “Black Tot Last Consignment has a true sense of heritage that we feel will appeal to travellers in duty free. It has over 300 years of British Naval history behind it adding to the allure for the consumer.”
“As one of the first and finest ultra-premium rums we also believe that it can establish itself as a real alternative to whisky in the minds of the travelling connoisseur.”
“Although we are yet to formalise our entry into the travel retail sector with Black Tot Last Consignment, we are confident enough in both the quality of the spirit and the brand’s appeal to know it will prove successful within the sector.”
Black Tot is presented in a traditional glass rum bottle and sealed with black wax. It is stored in a black walnut box with a brass plaque and a certificate of authenticity and comes with a tot cup, typical of those used to carry out rum rations onboard Navy ships.
Limited edition Black Tot Last Consignment Royal Naval rum will be officially released on 31 July and will retail for approximately £600 per 70cl bottle.
