Main alcohol Rum | Served Stirred | |
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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.
Contents
British Army
It is unknown when Gunfire was concocted; however it is known that it was mixed by British Army soldiers during the 1890s. 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. It is also traditionally served to soldiers in their beds by their officers on Christmas Day at Reveille if they are deployed over Christmas. Individual regiments may carry out the ritual on other days; for example, within the Royal Tank Regiment Gunfire is served on Cambrai 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 of Gunfire consumption.
Australian and New Zealander armies
In Australia and New Zealand on ANZAC Day, a version of Gunfire with black coffee instead of tea is served to soldiers after dawn services as part of the "gunfire breakfast".
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.
Gunfire is also drunk by Australian civilians as well to commemorate ANZAC Day.
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.