They say you only get two great loves. (When I say they, I obviously mean the girls from Sex and the City.) I was fortunate enough to be introduced to my two great loves on one fabulous date almost two years ago. Who could have expected to find so much at a simple pub quiz? One of these wonderful gentlemen is of course The Gent, TLLWTL’s very own resident male blogger (@MrMcBear), whereas the other is incredibly tasty and goes by the name of Jerry. His occupation? Sailor.
Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins (1911-1973) was a down to earth and well respected tattoo artist in the 50′s and 60′s. He took designs and adapted them to make them of his own unique style, revolutionising the art of tattooing, which were much loved by all who knew of him. Norman spent a lot of his youth drifting across America on freight trains, practising his art on other drifters before joining the US Navy and sailing the Pacific. This is where he was exposed to much of the art work in Southeast Asia, which heavily influenced his artistic designs. He eventually settled in Hawaii, but I imagine this was not before he had perfected his recipe for the world famous Sailor Jerry’s Spiced Rum.
I am a huge fan of Sailor Jerry’s Spiced Rum, as is everyone I know that has tried it. It has a unique blend of spices, as well as vanilla and lime, and tastes exquisite with either cola or ginger beer. They even had an entire tent dedicated to it at my favourite festival, The Big Chill. However, when I was on a little Easter jolly in the City of London this weekend I went into The Big Chill Bar just off Brick Lane, where I was faced with an enormous disappointment, of break up proportions.
They had changed the recipe. I had heard whispers, rumours, from pretty reliable sources, one being a devout Jerry’s drinker. But we simply couldn’t believe it could be true. I mean, why would they? How COULD they? Needless to say this was the first instance I had come face to face with my nemesis; ‘the new lable’.
The old bottle - the old recipe
I tried to like it, I really did. But in my opinion, it is just not as good. Sailor Jerry has, for me, lost everything that made it original. I could quite easily order any spiced rum now, as they pretty much all taste the same. I have even heard that Wetherspoons are no longer going to be selling Sailor Jerry at all, due to an overwhelming volume of complaints about the rubbish new recipe. This means that we can no longer go for a cheap Wether’s bevvie and drink the good stuff and, in response to people’s suggestions, I am not going to try and add the missing ingredients myself. I’ll be damned if everytime I go out I have to carry a vanilla pod and a lime in my handbag. The Gent and I were bought a bottle for a housewarming present. We kindly shared it with our good friends this weekend but we now only have enough for one glass each. I’m saving it for my wedding day, seeing as I don’t think I will ever be able to buy it again. *Sniff* The Gent is also considering getting the old lable (as above) tattooed on the back of his leg. *Sobs*
So, people of London and the UK, if you are also hugely disappointed about this change of recipe I would urge you to voice your dissatisfaction. Join the Facebook campaign. Email the manufacturor. Hell, stop buying the products if it means they might listen!
If you work for Sailor Jerrys then I offer you a challenge. If you provide me with a bottle of each recipe I will hit the streets of London and do a blind taste test. If the results come back that people like or even prefer the new recipe then I will be content from now on to live my life without the sweetness of Sailor Jerry in my life, knowing that I did my best. However, if the proof comes back that the old is indeed the best recipe, I urge you to make it available in addition to the rum you are now providing.
All those in favour of the old recipe, please say ‘aye’…
Because I ask you; would Norman Collins take away something we all loved so much?
Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins (1911-1973)
The contents of this article are opinions of Teeny Tiny Leanne and images and information have been sourced from websites including: Wikipedia, Sailor Jerry, Phawker.com, badservo.com, tattooblog.com, savings2enjoy.co.uk
You can follow @teenytinyleanne on Twitter!
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Angharad, 1 year ago
He looks like he’s had a bit too much Sailor Jerry’s. He appears to be tattooing with his eyes shut.
x
Sarah Finley, 1 year ago
Why do they have to go and change a good thing – when it was so right in the first place? Silly people – this always happens to me – or they just discontinue my favourite things….! I feel for you teenytiny…bring back the old recipe!!!
Lorns, 1 year ago
I can’t believe this. Please say it isn’t so.
I loved this post. But my heart just broke a little at this news. Jerry, why?
Lorns x
GrumpyTart, 1 year ago
I have to admit to having never drunk Sailor Jerry spiced rum in either recipe but I do have a teensy little bottle of the new stuff that I got in the post but I can’t compare to the old recipe.
Funnily enough, I have a draft blog post that’s been sat unfinished and unblogged regarding changes to products.
I live in dread of seeing the words “new and improved” on things I use because invariably they should have left well alone.
If I see any of the old bottles around, do you want them for your wedding day (or any other day!)?
Leanne, 1 year ago
Yeah that would be amazing! We aren’t even engaged haha but I feel I need to prepare NOW! I hate change. *sulks*