#brandy keg

[ltwilliammowett]

Wooden Brandy Keg used in the sickbay aboard a ship, 18th century

One end of the wooden keg deeply marked 1795 with Broad Arrow, the other bears a copper medallion displaying a fouled anchor over: Wm Fergusson, Surjeon

[ltwilliammowett]

A French naval gunners Brandy keg, 1798, marked with:

'French Naval Gunner's Brandy Keg taken from Boney's ship GUERRIER 1798.'

While in the Royal Navy the grog was served to the men, in the French Navy it was the brandy. 

[ltwilliammowett]

Officer's Brandy keg with four tarnished brass/copper hoops. One end is dated 1765 over the tap hole, with the plug unfortunately absent. The other end is branded with a broad arrow over B O, for “Board of Ordnance”, the typical marking of the period.

[ltwilliammowett]

Little Brandy keg, marked with the Royal Navy broad arrow 1795 and William Fergusson Surgeon

Until 1779, brandy was on the crew's rations list, as was rum, which appeared from 1731 onwards. From 1779 onwards, brandy was exchanged for rum, which was cheaper and did not come from France. Brandy was then only found in the private stores of the officers, who bought it themselves, and in the sickbay for medicinal purposes.