Grog
Serves 1 · 5 minutes · Rocks glass
Last updated 1 November 2026
This modern Difford’s Grog is Navy rum, chilled water, fresh lime, rich sugar syrup and bitters over ice. It is a measured cocktail interpretation, not a literal reconstruction of a historical naval ration or the multi-rum tiki drink Navy Grog.
Ingredients
- — 60ml Navy rum (55% ABV assumed)
- — 15ml fresh lime juice
- — 15ml rich sugar syrup (2:1)
- — 45ml chilled water
- — 2ml Angostura bitters (44.7% ABV assumed; house measure for two dashes)
- — Ice cubes
- — Lime wedge, to garnish
Method
- Measure rum, lime, syrup, chilled water and bitters into a shaker.
- Fill with ice and shake for 10–15 seconds until chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Add a washed lime wedge and serve.
The classic vs the spiced version
Difford’s modern Grog is the source for these proportions, with an explicit house bitters measure. Replacing the 60ml Navy rum with 60ml Dilay creates a lower-strength, spiced variation at 40%, not the specified Navy-rum version. Navy Grog has its own separate multi-rum recipe.
Tips for getting it right
- — Navy rum varies in strength. This version assumes 55%; the measure contains more alcohol than 60ml at 40%.
- — The 45ml water is a measured ingredient, not soda. Melting ice adds further dilution without removing alcohol.
- — Use 2:1 syrup. The same volume of 1:1 syrup changes sweetness.
Related serves
Related recipe: Navy Grog
Related recipe: Daiquiri
Frequently asked questions
Is Grog the same as Navy Grog?
No. This Grog uses one rum with water, lime, syrup and bitters. Navy Grog is a separate crushed-ice tiki cocktail with three rum components, grapefruit and spices.
Is this served hot?
No. This selected version is shaken and served over ice. It is not the existing hot rum toddy.
Dilay 1949 is our own spiced rum, for sipping as well as mixing. Any substitution described above is a maker’s adaptation, not part of the credited specification.
BUY DILAY 1949 PANJABI SPICED RUMRecipe references
Our method and spiced adaptations are described separately from the referenced classic specifications.
Approx. 3.39 UK units per serving from the measured alcoholic ingredients. Where a source gives US fluid ounces, our rounded conversion uses 30ml per ounce. Stated strengths are calculation assumptions, not verified specifications for every bottle. Bitters use an explicit house measure of 1ml per dash, not a universal dash conversion. Check all labels; dilution does not remove alcohol.
Please drink responsibly. 18+. Visit drinkaware.co.uk for the facts.