It started tens of thousands of years ago in the stone age with a version of beer being drunk, possibly even before bread was first made.
The civilisations in ancient Egypt worshiped many gods and regularly shared in the offering of alcohol to the gods, usually from a
drinks tray containing shots of their seasonal beverage. Shots of wine and beer were also used in medicine, nutrition and remuneration during daily life.
In ancient China, alcoholic beverages were considered spiritual food, always drunk during ceremonies with many people sharing the experience. The drinks tray was ideal on these occasions.
All through history, celebrating victories or drowning the memories of defeats with rounds of stiff drinks have been common.
The rise of piracy on the open seas and the increase in trade across the seas led to an increase in the size of the Navy’s. The shooter tray was a regular bar accessory for captain of ships
with some have been found in wreckages on the ocean floor.
The association of drinking rum with the British Royal Navy began in 1655 when the British fleet captured the island of Jamaica. It was always traditional for the Captain of the ship to drink brandy or rum served in goblets served from a
drinks tray, whilst the rations for the sailors were watered down and drunk from dirty cups.
The drinks tray or shooter tray evolved over many years to handle multiple glasses with ease, avoiding trips back to the bar and reducing spillage whilst moving around. Due to the shape of the tray and its association with the high seas, the name DrinksPaddle was born.
The history of the DrinksPaddle remains mostly unknown, however its legacy lives on in many ships, bars, universities and traditional homes.
