Unfortunately, the last few weeks have been really hard to get used to. First it was Covid, then for the first time quite serious fatigue problems afterwards and over weeks constantly changing “on-off infections”. Definitely not a good time for alcohol and therefore not for blogging here. Nevertheless, it should finally go on again today. And for this I have chosen an almost nostalgic topic. Because when I think of Plantation Pineapple Stiggins’ Fancy Original Dark, I go back to the early days of Galumbi – Drinks & More – more than six years ago. Back then, I described and tasted the pineapple-infused rum and also created an Old Fashioned called Cofresí, which focused on the classic interplay of pineapple and coconut. Today, I’m pleased to follow up on that article. (provided test product)*

Because there is a new kid on the block – not in general in the Plantation series, that happens after all continuously. No, the Plantation Pineapple Stiggins’ Fancy Original Dark gets a sibling: the Plantation Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Smoky Formula. You can already tell from the name: smoke comes into play here – which in times of general barbecue enthusiasm, in which grilled pineapple has long since ceased to be an insider’s tip, is certainly absorbed even more quickly and intuitively than it would have been, say, six years ago. The basis of Plantation Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Smoky Formula is the well-known and also here in the blog already reviewed Plantation “3 Stars” (which is also infused here with pineapple peel and then redistilled) and Plantation Original Dark. Then – and this is just the special thing here – the rum blend infused with pineapple is finished for four to six months in former whiskey barrels of the Irish Teeling distillery from Dublin. The barrels contained whiskeys made from barley malt kilned with peat smoke, so that the smoky notes from the barrels are transferred to the rum. Finally, it is bottled with a classic 40% vol.

So what does Plantation Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Smoky Formula taste like?

Tasting Notes:

Aroma: Indeed, the rum is immediately reminiscent of the classic Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple: the authentic pineapple is there, the familiar, beautiful rum aromas with hints of oak, brown sugar, subtle coconut and fine vanilla as well as some citrus. But now the expected smoke also joins in – and fits quite wonderfully and harmoniously into the overall picture. Had I initially still feared that the smoke here could swing into a too “bacon-y”, dominating and no longer quite fit into the picture direction, this concern was ultimately unfounded.

Taste: The relationship is also clearly recognizable in taste: again, I find fully ripe and very aromatic pineapple, plus a fine vanilla, light fruit notes and oak. In addition, notes of bananas and sweet cherries show up. All this is framed by fine smoke with spicy hints. A very nice flavored rum, with which you can certainly do a lot in the shaker.

Finish: spicy with smoke, pineapple and oak.

My first thought was to use the smoky pineapple theme of Plantation Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Smoky Formula in a fresh drink with some exoticism. While I won’t go out on a limb to call my drink a genuine tiki drink, it certainly touches on the theme more than a little. Thus, in my “Scorched Eden,” Plantation Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Smoky Formula is joined by fresh lime juice, the very nicely balanced Luxardo Sangue Morlacco, some guava nectar (hello tiki!) and Elemakule Tiki Bitters (…ok, I give up, it is a tiki drink).

Recipe “Scorched Eden”:

5 cl Plantation Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Smoky Formula
1 cl Luxardo Sangue Morlacco
1.5 cl guava nectar
3 cl fresh lime juice
2 dashes Bittermens Elemakule Tiki Bitters

Preparation: Shake all ingredients vigorously over ice and strain into glass filled with crushed ice.

Glass: Tumbler or Tiki Mug

Garnish: cherry and pineapple leaves

Buying sources: At specialty stores or online

*The fact that this product has been sent to me free of charge for editorial purposes does not – in any way – imply any influence on the content of this article or my rating. On the contrary, it is always an indispensable condition for me to be able to review without any external influence.