Father’s day is just around the corner and with that thought in mind, I really wanted to put the spotlight on what might just be, my favourite cocktail on our new list. Perfect for a hazy summers afternoon in the garden or relaxing at the bar , it’s a real showstopper and one Dad will love.
The Stiggins’ Smoked Old Fashioned draws its name from the principle spirit, the most amazing pineapple rum from Plantation, also known as Stiggins’ Fancy. From the minute I tasted it, I knew it had to be the leading figure in one of the new cocktails, beating out other similar tasting competitors.
The Old Fashioned, originally just ‘The Whisky Cocktail’, is a very old and established cocktail having evolved over the years to keep up with modern bartending trends.
The real advantage of The Old Fashioned is, like the traditional Martini, it gives the opportunity for the principle spirit to become the star of the show without being overshadowed – only enhanced. Traditionally quite sweet having been originally created with Bourbon in the Americas, this most important element was one that I wanted to maintain.We include dark sugar in the recipe, as per the traditional method, but in a slightly different way. First, we dry smoke the demerara sugar. We then dissolve this in boiling water whilst running more smoke through it to create a delicious smoky syrup the carries through the whole drink. With a little stirring, fresh orange peel, our pineapple rum and ice, we bring the drink to the perfect level of dilution before finally serving it to you in our signature smoking box that gives off some wonderful aromas.

Words by Bar Manager Ollie Hough