Episode 087

FEATURED COCKTAIL: GUNFIRE

This episode’s featured cocktail is simply called “Gun Fire.” To make this, you’ll need:

• One cup of black tea (usually in the neighborhood of 6-8 oz, depending on the size of your vessel)
• 2 oz navy strength rum

Combine these in your mug or glass of choice, give it a quick stir, and enjoy.

The gun fire cocktail was often served ceremonially by officers to lower ranking officers on the morning of a battle to help steel their nerves. It has been served throughout history in other capacities as well – for example to commissioned men who are forced to serve in the armed forces on a religious holiday like Christmas.

Now, from a cocktail perspective, you can choose to go simple or complex with this drink. Of course, as it stands, it’s kind of trending in the direction of a grog or a toddy, and you know that if there was sugar or citrus lying around, these would probably have been incorporated in the drink historically.

Personally, I think this would be nice with a ½ oz of rich demerara sugar syrup and a squeeze of lemon. And if you’re looking for a robust, heavy British style rum to use on today’s market, I’d recommend looking up a bottle of Smith & Cross, which is my go-to when I need to make a high-proof splash in my rum drinks.

Also feel free to get creative with your teas. You can play around with slight tweaks like an earl grey versus an English breakfast blend. Or you can go further afield and start curating your blend to the particular bottle you’re using. For more information on tea and tea cocktails, check out our interview with Brittany and Joe from the Wight Tea Company.