Black Tot Rum Masterclass with Mitch Wilson (past)
Black Tot Day in 1970 marked the end of a navy tradition that lasted for 239 years. The daily ‘tot’ of rum issued to crews in the British Royal Navy was voted to be given out no more. It also signified the end of a historic rum blend that had continuously evolved since the early 1800s — a rum that cannot be recreated with today’s production methods or distilleries.
Join us for a special masterclass with Black Tot Rum Global Ambassador Mitch Wilson as he presents a deep dive into the murky waters of this historic spirit. Mitch will explore some of the common myths and misconceptions associated with Navy Rum, and we will discover the real story behind the world’s first multi-country rum blend. Guests will have a chance to taste Black Tot Finest Caribbean and its component rums from Barbados, Guyana, and Jamaica that we chose for our blend. In addition, each attendee will be given a taste of Black Tot Master Blender’s Reserve bottled at 54.5% ABV (full Navy Strength). This is a limited edition release aimed at recreating the blending style of the authentic Navy Rum blend.
Rums in the tasting:
Barbados 5-year-old (Foursquare Distillery) - 46.2% ABV
Guyana un-aged (Diamond Distillery) - 46.2% ABV
Guyana 3-5 years (Diamond Distillery) - 46.2% ABV
Jamaica 3-year-old (Worthy Park Distillery) - 46.2% ABV
Black Tot Finest Caribbean - 46.2% ABV
Black Tot Master Blender’s Reserve - 54.5% ABV
Your host for the session:
While working at London's world-renowned rum bar, Trailer Happiness, Mitch began his fascination with rum. Over the past ten years, Mitch’s passion for rum has led to him bartending in some of the world’s best bars while traveling to distilleries worldwide to bring back exceptional booze and stories to share. In 2020, Mitch Wilson was asked to be the Global Ambassador for Black Tot Rum, which would turn out to be an interesting couple of years for brand ambassadors used to living on the road! Not to be deterred, over lockdown Mitch went on to host over 200 online rum sessions, including the Spirits Business Best Online Events for both 2020 (Black Tot Day 24 Hours) & 2021 (The Rum Show Online). Now in 2023, he’s excited to be back on the road, sharing his love for rum with people all around the world.
