As we get closer to Christmas, you might have a cup of good cheer or raise a toast to the end of 2024 – however, alcohol was not permitted for most whalers working at the whaling stations in South Georgia.
The Police/Customs Officer at the Government station of King Edward Point would search incoming ships for alcohol that might be brought ashore. But the men were resourceful and there were many homemade stills were hidden away in cupboards and eves around the whaling station buildings.
The men would collect sugar and anything that they could ferment such as rice, potatoes or grain and perhaps a little baking yeast from the station bakery to get their fermentation started. Once fermentation of the brew was complete, the fluid could be distilled in a homemade still to produce very strong alcohol. As a result, there were many parties in the men’s barracks and aboard the ships.
The Grytviken Church was built in Norway by Strommen Trevarefabrikk for C. A. Larsen. He provided the church in order that the whalers might have a focus away from more “sinful” diversions like alcohol. The whalers, however, remained fairly secular.
Illicit still