Gunfire (drink)

Gunfire (or gun-fire) is a British cocktail made of black tea and rum. It has its origins in the British Army and is also used as a name for early morning tea in the army.[1][2][3]

Gunfire
Cocktail
TypeMixed drink
Servedstirred
Standard drinkware
Mug
Commonly used ingredients1 cup of black tea
1 shot of rum
PreparationPour the tea into a cup. Pour the rum in and stir.

History

British Army

It is unknown when gunfire was concocted, but it is known that it was mixed by British Army soldiers during the 1890s.[4] Gunfire is served by officers and non-commissioned officers to lower ranks before a morning attack (as a form of Dutch courage) and as a celebration before a Passing out parade.[5] It is also traditionally served to soldiers in their beds by their officers on Christmas Day at reveille if they are deployed over Christmas.[6] Individual regiments may carry out the ritual on other days: for example, in the Royal Tank Regiment gunfire is served on Cambrai Day;[7] in the Queen's Royal Hussars on Balaclava Day and Saint Patrick's Day; and in the Royal Dragoon Guards gunfire made with whiskey on St Patrick's Day.

During the Korean War, members of the American Military Police Corps were given gunfire by British soldiers under the guise of it being normal tea after a recovery mission. This led to intoxication of the MPs who then drove an armoured recovery vehicle and some army jeeps into a camp gate as a result.[6]

Australian and New Zealand armies

In Australia and New Zealand on ANZAC Day, a version of gunfire with black coffee instead of tea is served to soldiers before dawn services as part of the "gunfire breakfast".[8]

Civilians

Gunfire has also been made and drunk outside of military circles. Gunfire was served to participants of British reality programme, Bad Lads Army by the non-commissioned officers before their passing out parade, mirroring the same procedure in the British Army.[9]

Gunfire is also drunk by Australian civilians to commemorate ANZAC Day.[10]

A similar drink, particularly in the German-speaking world is Jagertee.

Recipe

Gunfire consists of one cup of black tea with one shot of rum, which is then stirred in the cup.[11]

References
  1. "Band, Drums & Music". Queens Royal Surreys. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  2. "gun, n.". OED Online. June 2013. Oxford University Press. 18 June 2013
  3. MacDonald Fraser, George (2000). The Complete McAuslan. HarperCollins UK. pp. xiv. ISBN 0006513719.
  4. Partridge, Eric (2002). A Concise Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English (8th ed.). Routledge. p. 513. ISBN 0415291895.
  5. Fisher, Russell (2008). Soldiers of Shepshed: Remembered 1914 – 1919. Shepshed: Troubador Publishing Ltd. p. 216. ISBN 1848760876.
  6. Dutton, John (2007). Korea 1950–53 Recounting Reme Involvement. Lulu. pp. 26–27. ISBN 0955675308.
  7. "Regimental Day" Archived 17 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine Royal Tank Regiment Association
  8. Miller, Jack (2010). Kingdom Collision: The Movement of God's Spirit in a Time of War. CrossBooks. p. 69. ISBN 1462700365.
  9. "Episode 3.7". Bad Lads Army: Officer Class. Series 3. Episode 7. 8 September 2005. Event occurs at 37:43. ITV. ITV1. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  10. Ian Rose (21 April 2013). "Anzac Day: 'over the top' takes on new meaning". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  11. Miller, Dalyn (2006). The Daily Cocktail: 365 Intoxicating Drinks and the Outrageous Events that Inspired Them. Fair Winds. p. 122. ISBN 1610593790.
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