Term: "Buttery"

[Capn Jimbo]

Tradition. Tradition!

As some of you know I'm mad for history, tradition and etymology.

We see the term "buttery" applied to rum, and a wonderful descriptor it is. It's a term applied to certain (rightfully) appreciated rums. Mmmmm. And of course posters like Tiare no doubt associate "buttery" with her/their fine cooking and cuisine.

The actual origin is quite different and really pretty fascinating.

"Buttery" actually came from the term "butt", referring to barrels in which beers, wines and spirits were shipped and stored. It doesn't take a Compleat Idiot like me to comprehend that the "buttery" was a place where these cherished butts of valued fluids were stored. It gets better...

The value of these butts made them subject to theft, so of course the "buttery" was kept locked, safe and secure and left under the supervision of a trusted employee. And who might that be?

The "butler". How delicious! And now you know the rest of the story...