Gunfire (drink) facts for kids
| Cocktail | |
|---|---|
| Type | Mixed drink |
| Served | stirred |
| Standard drinkware |
.svg){kind=small} |
| Commonly used ingredients | 1 cup of black tea 1 shot of rum |
| Preparation | Pour the tea into a cup. Pour the rum in and stir. |
Gunfire (or gun-fire) is a British caffeinated alcoholic drink, a 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.
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. 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.
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".
Recipe
Gunfire consists of one cup of black tea with one shot of rum, which is then stirred in the cup.
