Grog

Grog seems to be a very, very old word, and while it might not qualify as the very first cocktail, it certainly is one of the earliest. Originally, Grog was a term used to describe rum that had been diluted with water and then sweetened with citrus juices, sugar, or other flavors.

In the days when Grog rose to fame throughout the British navy, around 1740 AD, it was not known that boiling water would purify it. Sailing ships would put to sea with fresh water stowed in barrels, only to have the barrels foul and begin growing algea three or four days out of port. To make the water palatable the officers would mix it with rum, half a pint of spirits to a quart of water (1 part to 4 parts). The water was effectively sterilized by the alcohol and thus safe to drink, though it was still terrible to taste. To help this, the sailors began to add citrus juices (mostly limes because of their shelf life), and sometimes sugar or honey, if they had it. This concoction was known as Grog.

Reportedly, this practice of adding citrus was introduced by Admiral Edward Vernon, and his sailors were noticeably healthier than those of other ships. The Vitamin C in the citrus would help combat the diseases of malnutrition so common to long sea voyages, most importantly scurvy. Legend has it that Grog got its name from the admiral, whom the sailors aboard his ship referred to as "Old Grog", referencing an old Grogram coat that he was never seen without.

However, it seems there are references in books to earlier usages of the word Grog, meaning merely water and rum, or sometimes water, rum, and molasses. So the origin of the word is anyone's guess. Perhaps Old Grog's family made up the legend of the Grogram coat to explain away his affection for this cocktail.

In any case, I don't recommend taking water from your goldfish tank and mixing it with rum, despite how accurate that might be. No, instead, my version makes use of soda water for the dilution, and a variety of rums give it a complexity to match the sweetness of the sugar and the tang of the lime. Enjoy!

Ingredients
Glassware: Old-Fashioned Glass
1 oz. White Rum (Bacardi Superior)
1/2 oz. Spiced Rum (I prefer Captain Morgan's Private Stock)
1/2 oz. Dark Rum (Whaler's or Myers Dark, both work well)
1/2 oz. Lime Juice (about 1 lime's worth)
1/2 oz. Simple Syrup
2 to 3 oz. Club Soda
Garnishes: 1 lime wedge and one mint sprig

Instructions
Fill an old-fashioned glass with ice
Combine all the rums in the glass
Add the lime juice and simple syrup
Fill the remainder of the glass with club soda
Garnish with a lime wedge and a mint sprig

Tip: Remember to rub the mint sprig vigorously between your hands so it is fragrant when you serve the cocktail!