What do they mean when they say Navy Strength?

A forum to post your thoughts about the art and beauty of getting loaded.

Moderators: Artful Drunktective, mistah willies, NYDingbat, Judge, oettinger, Oggar, Badfellow, Mr Boozificator

Post Reply
User avatar
Patchez
Drinking Like W.C.
Drinking Like W.C.
Posts: 6534
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:41 pm
Location: South Central, PA

What do they mean when they say Navy Strength?

Post by Patchez »

According to one source what it refers to is any rum, gin or other spirit, of high enough proof so that if the besotted cannon crew were to spill any on the powder it would still fire the cannon. Great folk lore and partially rooted in the truth.

This article I stumbled across gives a more realistic answer.
Last edited by Patchez on Fri Feb 08, 2019 8:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
Now you're ready for some anti-dry-otics!-BeerMakesMeSmarter

If worms had daggers, birds wouldn't fuck with them-Todd Snider

Blackout and be extraordinary-Absinthe of Malice

User avatar
Nausea
Hooching Like Hemingway
Hooching Like Hemingway
Posts: 3268
Joined: Thu Feb 28, 2008 7:15 am

Re: What do they mean when they say Navy Strength?

Post by Nausea »

Interesting article. You mangled the link, BTW.
Don't worry. We're in no hurry.

User avatar
Patchez
Drinking Like W.C.
Drinking Like W.C.
Posts: 6534
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:41 pm
Location: South Central, PA

Re: What do they mean when they say Navy Strength?

Post by Patchez »

Nausea wrote:
Thu Feb 07, 2019 4:35 pm
Interesting article. You mangled the link, BTW.
Fixed. I think.
Now you're ready for some anti-dry-otics!-BeerMakesMeSmarter

If worms had daggers, birds wouldn't fuck with them-Todd Snider

Blackout and be extraordinary-Absinthe of Malice

User avatar
Mr. Viking
Hooching Like Hemingway
Hooching Like Hemingway
Posts: 3947
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2011 7:23 am
Location: Norris Green

Re: What do they mean when they say Navy Strength?

Post by Mr. Viking »

Navy strength would imply gunpowder "proof" as a minimum, which is the minimum alcohol content, 56.something% abv at which the spirit poured onto gunpowder will light with a match, It was a excise standard??? I believe that was the minimum strength for navy rum rations in the UK. The term "alcoholic proof" derives from the use of this test as "proof" of the alcohol content
"I spent all of my money on cars, women and booze, the rest of it I squandered" G. Best

User avatar
mistah willies
Drinking Like W.C.
Drinking Like W.C.
Posts: 6747
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2013 9:48 pm
Location: A ship upon the vast ocean of the Mighty MDM
Contact:

Re: What do they mean when they say Navy Strength?

Post by mistah willies »

Mr. Viking wrote:
Thu Feb 14, 2019 4:46 pm
Navy strength would imply gunpowder "proof" as a minimum, which is the minimum alcohol content, 56.something% abv at which the spirit poured onto gunpowder will light with a match, It was a excise standard??? I believe that was the minimum strength for navy rum rations in the UK. The term "alcoholic proof" derives from the use of this test as "proof" of the alcohol content
Now, there should be a gunpowder drink of rum.

Gunpowder is readily available here in 'Murrica (replaced the lemonade stands on sidewalks in front of the houses of yore for those children trying to make a dime, or folks standing by the stop-light in traffic who now fill barrels/leather sachets with black powder instead of selling their wind-screen cleansing expertise from spit/urine with a dirty undergarment).

There is this:
Q. What's your favorite drink to make for a crowd?
A. I, shamelessly, have to say the Gunpowder Punch at Rob Roy. It's a blend of aged rum, agricole rum, gin, spices, lemon juice, orange and actual, antique-formula gunpowder.

Q. Gunpowder?!
A. Yes! My parents are into Ayurvedic and homeopathic medicine. Gunpowder is just carbon, sulfur and potassium, all of which are used in homeopathy. I wouldn't tell anybody to just sit there and eat gunpowder, but in small quantities it's fine. It makes the punch gunmetal gray, which is cool. And it adds a sharp, nicely acidic, slightly metallic finish.
From Here: https://www.foodandwine.com/blogs/2014/ ... ail-flavor

But there is indeed a certain rum:

http://themanufactory.wixsite.com/gunpo ... /home-port

These I will find, in addition to Badfellow's recommendation for Smith and Cross rum during our last drunk dial.


.

User avatar
Mr. Viking
Hooching Like Hemingway
Hooching Like Hemingway
Posts: 3947
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2011 7:23 am
Location: Norris Green

Re: What do they mean when they say Navy Strength?

Post by Mr. Viking »

don't you boil piss to make gunpowder?
"I spent all of my money on cars, women and booze, the rest of it I squandered" G. Best

User avatar
Artful Drunktective
Chugging Like Churchill
Chugging Like Churchill
Posts: 5332
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 1:00 pm
Location: Yautja Prime

Re: What do they mean when they say Navy Strength?

Post by Artful Drunktective »

mistah willies wrote:
Fri Feb 15, 2019 3:36 pm
Now, there should be a gunpowder drink of rum.

Gunpowder is readily available here in 'Murrica (replaced the lemonade stands on sidewalks in front of the houses of yore for those children trying to make a dime, or folks standing by the stop-light in traffic who now fill barrels/leather sachets with black powder instead of selling their wind-screen cleansing expertise from spit/urine with a dirty undergarment).
Gots ta love Yosemite Sam! Always gunpowder skulduggery afoot.

Image
Okole maluna!

Image

User avatar
Patchez
Drinking Like W.C.
Drinking Like W.C.
Posts: 6534
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:41 pm
Location: South Central, PA

Re: What do they mean when they say Navy Strength?

Post by Patchez »

Mr. Viking wrote:
Fri Mar 15, 2019 1:43 pm
don't you boil piss to make gunpowder?
Bat shit and charcoal makes rudimentary gunpowder. I think technically the sulfur in bat shit.

Maybe I'm just bat shit crazy and read too many comic books.
Now you're ready for some anti-dry-otics!-BeerMakesMeSmarter

If worms had daggers, birds wouldn't fuck with them-Todd Snider

Blackout and be extraordinary-Absinthe of Malice

User avatar
oettinger
Juicing Like Jackie
Juicing Like Jackie
Posts: 14248
Joined: Sun Nov 10, 2013 10:23 am

Re: What do they mean when they say Navy Strength?

Post by oettinger »

The toilet-bowl blew up pretty nicely today without using any gunpowder, liquids only
Drink!
Image
Image

User avatar
ThirstyDrunk
Juicing Like Jackie
Juicing Like Jackie
Posts: 12700
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:35 pm
Location: Xenia

Re: What do they mean when they say Navy Strength?

Post by ThirstyDrunk »

MAN OVERBOARD
SPLICE THE MAINBRACE
KICK YOU N THE BALLSACk
all of these thihngs are mean navy strength
Stop being sissies
Like a desperate thirst in a raging drought

User avatar
Patchez
Drinking Like W.C.
Drinking Like W.C.
Posts: 6534
Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:41 pm
Location: South Central, PA

Re: What do they mean when they say Navy Strength?

Post by Patchez »

Don't forget keel hauling and Wednesday is your turn in the barrel.
Now you're ready for some anti-dry-otics!-BeerMakesMeSmarter

If worms had daggers, birds wouldn't fuck with them-Todd Snider

Blackout and be extraordinary-Absinthe of Malice

User avatar
Mr. Viking
Hooching Like Hemingway
Hooching Like Hemingway
Posts: 3947
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2011 7:23 am
Location: Norris Green

Re: What do they mean when they say Navy Strength?

Post by Mr. Viking »

Patchez wrote:
Sat Mar 16, 2019 7:04 pm
Mr. Viking wrote:
Fri Mar 15, 2019 1:43 pm
don't you boil piss to make gunpowder?
Bat shit and charcoal makes rudimentary gunpowder. I think technically the sulfur in bat shit.

Maybe I'm just bat shit crazy and read too many comic books.
It's the ammonia, mixed with charcoal you get saltpetre which somehow becomes black powder. Where's Willies when you need him?
"I spent all of my money on cars, women and booze, the rest of it I squandered" G. Best

User avatar
Savage
Juicing Like Jackie
Juicing Like Jackie
Posts: 25434
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2003 1:16 am
Location: All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go

Re: What do they mean when they say Navy Strength?

Post by Savage »

Rum, sodomy and the lash. That is probably why Marines walk so asscheek-clenched. They were only aboard to protect the squids, you know.
like tears in rain

Post Reply