Pusser's Rum Goes Down Under After 36 Year Dry Spell

Pussers Rum, the original navy rum and the rum of Great Britain's Royal Navy for 330 years, has not been officially available in the southern hemisphere since "Black Tot Day" - July 31st, 1970 - the day the Royal Navy abolished the daily issue of a rum tot to its sailors.

In 1979, the Pusser's Rum tradition was resurrected by Charles Tobias when he obtained the rights and all the blending information from the Admiralty. He began bottling and selling Pusser's Rum to the public for the first time in 1980 - but only in the northern hemisphere. This 36 year dry spell "down under" is about to end with the appointment of Blue Sky Beverages as the Australian and New Zealand distributor.

However, a few bottles of Pusser's Rum are already on Australian shores. HMAS Anzac returned to Australia with 40 cases of Pusser's Rum procured in the UK after her attendance at Trafalgar 200 as part of her Northern Trident Deployment. These 240 bottles have been distributed throughout the Royal Australian Navy and affiliated associations to ensure that Pusser's Rum will be used to "Splice the Main Brace" on Trafalgar Day, October 21st.

"The history of Pussers Rum is inextricably linked with Australia's and I'm pleased as hell that we can finally reunite the two," said Charles Tobias, founder and Chairman of Pusser's Rum. "The jack tars of the First Fleet refused to sail to Australia without Pusser's Rum onboard. Rum was a major currency in the early years of settlement in Botany Bay. In fact, rum was the cause of the infamous William Bligh's second mutiny when he was Governor of New South Wales. He tried to curtail the rum monopoly of the 'Rum Corps' that sparked the "Rum Rebellion" in 1808. Interest in Pusser's Rum seems to be exceptionally high. I think the Aussies really will enjoy that unique full, rum flavor that is only Pusser's. There's also something special about drinking what I like to call 'Liquid History' because that's what Pusser's is. Such a colorful history, such a great product, I think the Aussies are going to love it."


Pusser's Rum aficionados should also look out for opportunities to purchase one of the magnificent ceramic "Admiral Lord Nelson" Ships Decanters, "Nelson's Blood" Flagons or "Nelson's Blood" Hip Flasks which will not be available in retail stores.

Pusser's Rum is the same Admiralty rum that was issued daily onboard British warships from about 1640 until Black Tot Day. It is still produced in exact accordance with the Admiralty's specifications. It is the only rum in the world that is still handcrafted in the inefficient old way in wooden pot-stills as all navy rums were until about 125 years ago. Today, every other rum comes from modern industrial metal stills that are low cost and short on flavour. As a result, many popular rum brands have to add flavouring to increase the taste.

By contrast, the wooden pot-still distillation process used by Pusser's is similar to that used for single malt scotches and produces greatly enhanced flavour that is unsurpassed.

Pusser's Rum is a world quality premium spirit. In the only two prestigious competitions it has ever entered, it won the gold medals at the International Wine & Spirits Festival, London, 2001, and the Double Gold at the San Francisco World's Spirits Competition, 2003, as testimony to its quality.

To purchase Pusser's Rum in Australia or New Zealand, contact  South Trade International, PO Box 233, Collaroy, NSW Australia 2097
Telephone 61 2 9922 2816
Fax: 61 2 9922 3657
Email: info@southtradeint.com.au
www.southtradeint.com.au