It seems that no one knows why this day in August is celebrated as National Rum Day here in the U.S. Internationally it seems that it is celebrated on October 21st. This date marks the death of Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson in his victorious battle over Napoleon’s navy at the Battle of Trafalgar. The crew then placed his body in a large cask of rum to preserve it until they could return home to England.  Folklore/legend says that when the cask was opened it was half empty. It is believed that the crew had tapped the cask and drank the rum while sailing back to England. From then on sailors of the Royal Navy celebrate the Battle of Trafalgar by drinking rum and honoring the fallen Admiral.