Plantation Stiggins Fancy Pineapple Rum Barbados Jamaica Spirit Drink 40%

In 1830s London there was a drink most people have since forgotten: a sweet, pineapple-scented rum that passed as a mark of good taste among the city's gentlemen. Charles Dickens wrote it into literary history when he had the hypocritical Reverend Stiggins enjoy it in secret at Mrs. Weller's pub. Nearly two centuries later, Planteray dug the old recipe back out of history's drawer.

Expert description

Planteray Stiggins' Fancy Pineapple Rum is a Flavoured Rum from Barbados and Jamaica, bottled at 40%.

In 2015, master blender Alexandre Gabriel teamed up with spirits historian David Wondrich to bring the drink back to life, originally as a thank-you gift for the bartenders at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. The pair dug through old sources such as the 1824 Journal of Patents and Inventions and the 1844 Journal of the Agricultural Society to work out what pineapple rum actually tasted like back then.

Ripe Victoria pineapple flesh is steeped in Planteray Original Dark Rum for several months, while the rind – where the fruit's essential oils are concentrated – is macerated separately and then redistilled through Planteray 3 Stars white rum. The two parts are finally blended together and left to rest further in cask before bottling. The rum won Best New Spirit at Tales of the Cocktail in 2016 and has since become a fixture in Planteray's range – no age statement, but a clear signature of tropical fruit and spice.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried pineapple and grilled peach meet overripe banana and caramelised sugar, with a hint of clove, cinnamon and black pepper in the background.

Palate

Grilled pineapple and flambéed peach unfold alongside tangerine and scorched brown sugar, spiced with clove, cinnamon and black pepper.

Finish

Caramel and grilled pineapple fade into warm cinnamon and a lingering, citrusy orange note.

Specifications

Name: Planteray Stiggins' Fancy Pineapple Rum
Distillery: Planteray
Region/Country: Barbados and Jamaica
Type: Flavoured Rum
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
EAN no.: 3460410538505
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed over ice in a tumbler, or as the base of a Daiquiri or Old Fashioned.

Flavour Profile

Tropical · Fruity · Spiced · Rich

Did you know?

Reverend Stiggins in Charles Dickens' Pickwick Papers preferred his pineapple rum warm – with a splash of boiling water and three lumps of sugar stirred into the glass.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Planteray Stiggins' Fancy Pineapple Rum

What does Planteray Stiggins' Fancy Pineapple Rum taste like?

It tastes of grilled pineapple and flambéed peach, spiced with clove, cinnamon and black pepper. The base is a blend of rum from Barbados and Jamaica, and the pineapple comes from real Victoria pineapples rather than added flavouring alone.

Why is the rum called Stiggins' Fancy?

The name pays tribute to Reverend Stiggins from Charles Dickens' novel The Pickwick Papers, whose favourite drink was pineapple rum. The character was known as a hypocrite who preached temperance while enjoying several glasses himself at Mrs. Weller's pub.

Is Planteray Stiggins' Fancy a pure rum?

No, it's classified as a Flavoured Rum because it's infused with pineapple. The base rums come from Barbados and Jamaica, but the pineapple infusion and subsequent redistillation of the rind set it apart from an unmodified traditional rum.

Should Stiggins' Fancy Pineapple be served on ice or neat?

Both work well. It can be enjoyed neat or over ice in a tumbler, where the cold takes a little edge off the sweetness, but it's just as much a cocktail rum.

Which cocktails suit Planteray Stiggins' Fancy Pineapple?

It was created with bartenders in mind and works well in a Daiquiri, a twist on the Old Fashioned, or an Espresso Martini, where the pineapple sweetness balances the coffee's bitterness.

Where does the rum in Stiggins' Fancy come from?

It's built on Planteray's rum from Barbados and Jamaica. Planteray, formerly known as Plantation Rum, was founded by master blender Alexandre Gabriel, who is also behind Maison Ferrand in Cognac.