Jackspeak of the Royal Canadian Navy

Passing the Port

At a naval mess dinner, port is served just prior to the loyal toast. Before the toast is made, the port decanters are passed to all diners so they may pour themselves a serving of port. The tradition in a naval mess is for the port to be slid along the table from diner to diner, with the bottle of port never leaving the table as it is passed. Although, the port decanter is slid when passed, it may be lifted when it is poured. Incidentally, the port is always passed to the left.

Added: 2014-11-01 Last modified: 2014-11-01