We probably think of ‘grog’ as a cocktail of rum with hot water, lemon and a sweetener (sugar or honey), rather like a ‘hot toddy’. But, in fact, its name came from grogram, a type of coarse fabric of silk, mixed with wool or mohair.
“Until the time of Admiral Vernon*, the British sailors had their allowance of brandy or rum# served out to them unmixed with water. This plan was found to be attended with inconvenience on some occasion; and the Admiral, therefore, ordered that in the fleet he commanded, the spirit should be mixed water before it was given to the men. This innovation, at first, gave great offence to the sailors, and rendered the Commander very unpopular. The Admiral, at that time, wore a grogram coat, and was nicknamed ‘Old Grog‘. This name was afterwards given to the mixed liquor he compelled them to take; and it has since universally obtained the name of grog.”
The Stamford Mercury, 15th November, 1822.
#The rum ration survived until 1970. By then ships’ systems and weapons had become increasingly complex and the Admiralty was worried that a tot of alcohol could impair the sailors’ ability to operate them.
*Admiral Edward Vernon, 1684 – 1757, Royal Navy officer and politician.