Fog Cutter — tasting notes & food pairings

Fog Cutter

The Fog Cutter is a potent tiki classic from Trader Vic, a tall, fruity-looking drink that hides three spirits under its citrus. It is built from light rum, brandy and gin with fresh lemon and orange juice and orgeat — a sweet almond syrup — shaken and poured over crushed ice, then finished with a float of sweet cream sherry. The effect is deceptive: it tastes bright, nutty and orange-sweet, but it is one of the strongest of the exotic drinks, sometimes called the Long Island Iced Tea of tiki. Trader Vic himself warned that two of them would put you under the table.

Sweet-tart18% ABV

A tall, amber tiki sour of considerable strength, citrus-led and fruity with a big hit of fresh lemon softened by orange juice, sweetened and perfumed by nutty almond orgeat, and finished with a pale float of sweet cream sherry drawn up nutty and winey on top. Underneath the fruit sit three spirits — light rum, brandy and gin — which add warmth and weight without dominating the taste, so the drink reads bright, sour-sweet and almond-fragrant rather than hot. It is deceptively easy to drink for how strong it is.