[jaggederest]

Grog was at least 10% alcohol, plus lime juice. Navy rum was 65% or 130 proof. That's more than enough to inhibit most waterborne diseases such as cholera (inhibited in wine at 6.25% abv, though wine has tannins and phenols).

[vondur]

Yikes, I just checked, and Captain Morgan's is 35% Alcohol. I'm aware of Bacardi 151 (75.5% alcohol) which is like fire water to me. Can't imagine drinking something so concentrated regularly.

[asdgioanionio]

You can't judge from Bacardi. It's bottom-shelf, young, and pretty rough. I find it unpleasant to drink neat even at 80 proof. A high-quality, aged rum at 130 proof will be plenty fiery, but not as bad as Bacardi 151 diluted to 130 proof.

Of course, the sailors probably didn't drink anything terribly high-end.

[haldujai]

> I find it unpleasant to drink

I concur, I tried to acquire the taste for 151 in college and even after 4 years of earnest and consistent effort it did not get better. Similar experiments with Everclear and overproof grappa were also unsuccessful.

I would not recommend any of these if one is interested in a pleasant drinking experience.

Lately I've been finding Bourbon to be enjoyable. Woodford Reserve and Bulleit are well-priced and good introductions in my opinion.

[reportgunner]

> Lately I've been finding Bourbon to be enjoyable. Woodford Reserve and Bulleit are well-priced and good introductions in my opinion.

Also try Buffalo Trace, it's one of my three favorite including the two you mentioned.

[haldujai]

Thanks! It's on my list, I haven't gotten around to it yet.

Would you suggest the regular Buffalo Trace or one of their (many) variations?

[reportgunner]

I have only tried the regular one but I liked it a lot.

[jrockway]

I suppose that's why 1 part of rum got mixed with 4 parts water and some limes.

[dgoldstein0]

The lime got added to prevent scurvy, which was a major problem prior to it's addition

[Dah00n]

Even with its addition as they didn't use fresh lime (some even boiled it) for many years. People got both lime and scurvy.

Scurvy: The Disease of Discovery by J. Lamb is actually quite interesting.

[dekhn]

The only reason I'd ever buy everclear (95% ethanol) is for cleaning optics.

[MostlyStable]

It's also great for doing various tinctures/extractions if you get into the more exotic side of cooking/food/mixology

[13of40]

Fun fact: Vodka is usually distilled to a high purity close to everclear using a reflux still, then diluted with water to get down to 40%.

[lostlogin]

If the very elaborate still in a neighbours garage is anything to go by, gin, limoncello and various others can be made this way too. 10+ bubble plates and away he goes.

[conductr]

In my high school days, we used it for Jell-O shots and drunk watermelons. Probably should have used vodka but ever clear was more bang/buck. I remember taking a shot of it once as a group “dare” type situation. It was as awful as you would guess

[dekhn]

I've never drunk it. I don't like high proof alcohol.

Once I worked in a very informal lab and we were always looking for alternatives to buying industrial chemicals. I was working with optics, and Everclear came up as a good alternative to denatured alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. My friend who ran a microscope lab said it was pure enough to clean optics... however, since it was illegal to buy in California, we had a friend pick it up in Arizona and drop it off with us.

We put it in the flammable storage cabinet with a label saying it was 95% alcohol. Once during a lab inspection we tried to explain, but the inspector just said "yes, I went to college"

[alanfranz]

Why would everclear be better than denaturated alcohol? Usually (I live in Europe btw) denaturated alcol is cheaper and has same proof of drinkable liquids.

[outsidetheparty]

The "denatured" part means it contains additives that make it poisonous and foul-tasting.

[dekhn]

because I prefer my cleaning solvents to be consumable in an emergency.

[wlesieutre]

Good solvent for shellac as well, without the nasty smell and headache from denatured alcohol fumes. Costs more though, since it’s sold and taxed for consumption.

[dekhn]

I can't practically get everclear since I live in California, where it's illegal. I use 99% IPA for shellac, it's not denatured but you wouldn't want to drink it anyway.

[paragraft]

Before my brain caught up I was just about to ask you what brewery is it that can do a 99% Indian Pale Ale...

[wlesieutre]

How about a hops extract?

[wlesieutre]

Stock up if you're ever in Oregon, Arizona, or Utah. No luck in Nevada either.

[squeaky-clean]

If I remember correctly, the lower ranking navy members weren't even allowed access to the strong stuff. Only the officers who had to dilute it before giving it to the others.

[Tommstein]

Few people are regularly pounding rum shots.