Jan. 14 would have been the 105th birthday of Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins (pictured above), the kingpin of old-school tattooing and inspiration for Sailor Jerry spiced rum.
To mark the occasion, the rum brand announced the next phase of its Sailor Jerry Presents platform with the launch of the Sailor Jerry Record Label. It’s releasing a limited-edition vinyl record featuring the single “All Sewn Up” by Lucero.
Sailor Jerry spiced rum, owned by William Grant & Sons, is also offering free streaming of the “Hori Smoku” documentary for the entire month of January via its website.
The feature-length documentary explores the roots of American tattooing through the life of Norman Collins, with rare interviews from Collins’ protégées, Don Ed Hardy and Mike Malone and archival footage of the birth of tattooing to showcase the evolution of the global tattooing phenomenon.
There are a number of Sailor Jerry cocktails that would be appropriate for raising a toast to Norman Collins, who in addition to being a tattoo artist and sailor was also a musician, radio host, biker and more. Here’s one courtesy of Sailor Jerry brand ambassador Daniel “Gravy” Thomas:
Root of the Promise
Root of the Promise
1 part Sailor Jerry spiced rum
1 part (alcoholic) Root beer
1 tablespoon of Kahlua
Drizzle of honey
Combine ingredients and pour into a rocks-filled glass (rimmed with cinnamon sugar if desired) and stir. Garnish with an orange peel.
