Tot of the day
"I have Social Disease. I have to go out every night. If I stay home one night I start spreading rumours to my dogs."
Andy Warhol
Tales of the Tot
Behind the Blend - Interview with Oliver Chilton, Black Tot Head Blender
Have you ever wondered how a rum blend comes together? In this interview, Mitch Wilson, Black Tot Global Ambassador, sits down with Oliver Chilton, Head Blender at Elixir Distillers, who has composed the blends for Black Tot Finest Caribbean, 50th Anniversary, and our latest release, Master Blender’s Reserve 2021. In addition to these rum blends, Oliver has many years of experience in blending and bottling whiskies such as Elements of Islay, Port Askaig, and Single Malts of Scotland under the Elixir Distillers flag. In this interview, we look at Oliver’s approach to blending, how Master Blender’s Reserve was created, and how he adapted his whisky skillset to the tropical world of rum…
Tales of the Tot
The Black Tot Journal: A Beginner Learns About Spiced & Flavoured Rum
Want to start learning about rum but have no idea where to begin? Fear not! Our resident rum novice has just began her journey into rum and is happy to share her learnings. Her latest focus: spiced and flavoured rums. Read on to learn more...
Tales of the Tot
COCKTAIL CORNER: HOW TO MAKE SUGAR SYRUP
From time to time, we get sent questions here at Black Tot about how to make some of your favourite rum cocktails. And while we heartily recommend asking your local bartender for the answers, we thought we’d start putting the answers to some of the more common cocktail FAQs here on the site as a reference for anyone running a home bar operation or that might be curious about making drinks at home. Got a cocktail question? Send it over to [email protected] and we’ll do our best to answer for you. Click through to see Mitch's response on how to make sugar syrup.
Our Journey
THE HEART OF THE TOT
Here's what happened with the discovery of five casks of 40-year-old Demerara rum...
Our Journey
A RUM FOR TODAY
We wanted to respect the tradition that continues to inspire us, but create something new for the tastes of today - enter, Black Tot Finest Caribbean. And where to next?
Our Journey
THE LOST FLAGONS
The last flagons of Royal Navy Rum had to end up somewhere… And this is where our journey with them began. We also found some other interesting remnants from the angel’s share.
Our Journey
Long Live the Tot!
Black Tot Day in 1970 ended a relationship between the British Armed Forces and their favourite drink and the sailors of the of the time mourned the loss of their rum. But this loss led to society’s gain...
History
RUM SETS SAIL ON THE SEVEN SEAS
Alcohol was always carried on board Royal Navy ships, but in the 1600s a new type of spirit emerged…
History
THE FIRST RUM RATIONS ARE ISSUED
The beginning of rum rations, the origins of the ‘grog’ and a possible cocktail creation...
History
THE NAVY RUM BLEND
The Royal Navy became accidental, yet pioneering, blenders. As for choosing between rum or money, which do you think the sailors favoured?
History
THE DAY THE RUM DIED
1970 marked the end of the navy rum ration on ‘Black Tot Day'. But eventually, the fate of the last of the liquid crossed our path.