Plum Swizzle

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Cocktail History

The Plum Swizzle is a tiki cocktail that was created by Alex Sukopp, former bartender of Sips From Scripts, for a Christmas cocktail challenge. Inspired by a bartender from Romania named Puiu Alexandru, the recipe starts with a base of plum brandy, the most popular native creation of Romania. It then adds in a mixture of go-to tiki ingredients including rum, orgeat syrup, citrus juice, violet liqueur, and absinthe to create a strong but flavorful tropical drink with unique floral notes.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Plum Brandy: This is a type of brandy made with fermented plum juice and yeast, which are distilled and then aged to develop a rich, stone fruit flavor.

Dark Rum: This is a type of rum made with fermented sugarcane juice or molasses and yeast, which are distilled and then aged, often in charred barrels, to develop a full-bodied, caramelized flavor.

Orange Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe oranges that has a light, sweet citrus flavor and pale orange color.

Overproof Rum: This is a type of rum made with sugarcane, spices, and water that has been barrel aged and contains over 50% alcohol content. I used J. Wray & Nephew Overproof White Rum.

Cognac: This is a type of brandy made in the Cognac region of France with grapes and yeast, which are distilled and then aged in oak barrels to develop a smooth, complex flavor.

Lime Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe limes that has a zesty, sour flavor and light green color.

Orgeat Syrup: This is a sweetener made with almonds, white sugar, and water, which are blended and flavored with orange flower water to develop a nutty, floral sweetness.

Crème De Violette: This is a liqueur made with violet buds, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a sweet, floral flavor.

Absinthe: This is a spirit made by distilling a neutral alcohol with wormwood, anise, fennel, and other botanicals to develop a strong, herbal flavor.

Mint: This is an herb made from the leaves of the mint plant, which are harvested and used for their cool, aromatic flavor.

Orange Twist: This is the peel of an orange that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.

Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.

Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.

Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Red-orange color

• Aroma: Absinthe and mint

• Taste: Sweet orange-forward flavor accented with rum spiciness, brandy burn, and tart lime

• Finish: Fruity plum and floral notes

Kendall’s Take: “This was an incredibly unique tiki drink! Although I couldn’t find plum brandy, I think using the plum wine still did the recipe justice. The fruit adds a delicious tartness and depth to the tiki template, and it’s made me want to explore plum more in recipes now. The Plum Swizzle is definitely worth a reshake if you like tropical drinks!”

Recipe