Smoked Pineapple Rum Old Fashioned: A Tropical Ember in a Classic Frame

The Smoked Pineapple Rum Old Fashioned is where tiki spirit meets speakeasy technique—a drink that takes the bones of an old fashioned and breathes fire and fruit into its core. Built on a base of aged rum and layered with charred pineapple, rich syrup, and smoky depth, this is a slow-sipping cocktail that doesn’t just twist tradition—it caramelizes it.

Think of it as an old fashioned reimagined for the beachside firepit: sweet and boozy, but with a kiss of smoke, lush tropical fruit, and just enough bitterness to keep you grounded. This cocktail is meant to be luxurious, tactile, and aromatic, offering the kind of flavor journey that begins with fire and ends with molasses.

I stumbled on the concept while grilling pineapple for a rum punch party. A spare slice ended up in an old fashioned—and the sweet, smoky depth changed everything. With a few tweaks (hello, barrel-aged bitters and pineapple syrup), it became a signature slow-burner for summer nights.

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Quick Facts: Smoked Pineapple Rum Old Fashioned

Method: stirred
Flavor profile: smoky, sweet, tropical
How to serve it: over a large ice cube
Glassware: rocks glass
Alcohol content: ~26–28% ABV, ~22–25 grams of alcohol per serving

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Ingredients

• 2 oz aged rum (see notes)
• ¼ oz smoked pineapple syrup (recipe below)
• 2 dashes aromatic or tiki bitters
• Optional: 1 dash smoked chili bitters or mezcal rinse
• Garnish: torched pineapple wedge or grilled citrus
• Ice: large cube or clear rock

For the Smoked Pineapple Syrup:

• 1 cup grilled or smoked pineapple (chunks or rings)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water

Grill pineapple until lightly charred. Combine with sugar and water in a saucepan, simmer for 10 minutes, then steep for 30 minutes off heat. Strain and store in the fridge.

Recommended Rum:

• Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva – rich and caramelized
• Plantation Pineapple Rum – adds bright pineapple edge
• Ron Zacapa 23 – smooth and deep
• Appleton Estate 12 Year – more structured and dry

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Equipment Needed

• Mixing glass
• Bar spoon
• Jigger
• Fine strainer
• Rocks glass
• Butane torch or grill (for pineapple or garnish)
• Sharp knife and peelers
• Optional: smoking gun or cedar plank for aromatics

No shaking necessary here—this is a stirred sipper, designed to be cold and spirituous. For the garnish, a torch or grill can add dramatic presentation and layers of aroma.

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Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the smoked pineapple syrup.
Grill or torch pineapple until charred. Simmer with equal parts sugar and water, steep, and strain. Let cool before use.

2. Optional prep: smoke your glass.
Use a smoking gun or torch a cedar plank and invert your rocks glass over the smoke for 15 seconds.

3. Build in mixing glass.
Add to a mixing glass:

• 2 oz aged rum
• ¼ oz smoked pineapple syrup
• 2 dashes aromatic bitters
• Optional: 1 dash smoked chili bitters

4. Stir with ice.
Fill the mixing glass with ice and stir for 20–30 seconds, until chilled and slightly diluted.

5. Strain into rocks glass.
Place a large clear ice cube in a rocks glass. Strain the drink over the ice.

6. Garnish with fire.
Add a charred pineapple wedge, torched orange twist, or grilled lime wheel. For more drama, flame an orange peel over the glass to express oils.

Serve immediately and sip slowly.

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Flavor Profile and Tasting Notes

This cocktail is rich, smoky, and silky, with a dark tropical edge. The grilled pineapple syrup adds caramelized fruit, while the bitters and smoke keep it grounded and complex.

Tasting notes include:

• Toasted sugar and molasses
• Roasted pineapple and citrus
• Hints of vanilla, oak, and clove
• A faint chili warmth or smoky whisper on the finish (if using mezcal or chili bitters)

Texture: velvety and full-bodied, with just enough syrup to give the drink coating weight, but no cloying sweetness.

Pairs well with:

• Spiced pork belly or ribs
• Roasted plantains
• Smoked salmon or charred octopus
• Dark chocolate with sea salt
• Pineapple upside-down cake

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Garnishing and Presentation

Presentation is half the joy with this cocktail—it’s meant to look like a fireside ritual, with glowing hues and scorched garnishes.

Garnish ideas:

• Charred pineapple wedge or cube on a skewer
• Torched orange or lime peel
• Cinnamon stick smoldering slightly on top
• Dehydrated pineapple flower
• Tiny pinch of smoked sea salt on top of the ice

Use a lowball or rocks glass with a large clear cube for maximum visual appeal. Serve on a dark slate coaster or wooden board for contrast, and consider adding a sprig of charred rosemary for an herbal smoky note.

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Pairing Suggestions

This cocktail invites pairings that are rich, grilled, or sweet-savory, reflecting the tropical and smoky notes.

Savory pairings:

• Grilled jerk chicken
• Braised short ribs
• Pulled pork sliders
• Charred cauliflower with harissa
• Mango-chili ceviche

Snack pairings:

• Bacon-wrapped dates
• Smoked almonds or cashews
• Plantain chips with spicy dip

Sweet pairings:

• Pineapple-coconut tart
• Molasses cookies
• Chocolate with chili
• Toasted banana bread with brown butter

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Cocktail History and Trivia

The Old Fashioned is one of the oldest recorded cocktails—originally made with just spirit, sugar, water, and bitters. But its minimalist structure has made it a favorite canvas for endless interpretations.

This version pulls inspiration from two traditions:

• The classic tiki canon, with grilled fruit and tropical syrups
• The modern craft cocktail scene, which embraces smoked elements and custom syrups

The trend of smoking cocktails took off in the early 2010s, with bartenders using smoking guns and wood chips to add new sensory experiences to drinks. Grilled fruit, once just a garnish, became a way to add caramelization and complexity to syrups and infusions—perfect for modern Old Fashioned variations.

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Serving Suggestions

The Smoked Pineapple Rum Old Fashioned is best served:

• At sunset gatherings or bonfire parties
• As a slow sipper after grilled dinners
• During summer or shoulder seasons, when smoke and fruit both make sense
• As a signature house cocktail for beach weddings or backyard events

To serve for a group:

• Pre-batch the rum, syrup, and bitters in a large bottle
• Stir individual servings over ice to order
• Torch garnish just before serving for drama and aroma

Make it interactive: let guests torch their own pineapple skewers or orange twists for a theatrical DIY touch.

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Alcohol Content and Alternatives

With 2 oz of aged rum and minimal dilution, this drink clocks in at ~26–28% ABV, depending on the rum’s strength.

To reduce ABV:

• Use 1½ oz rum + ½ oz pineapple juice
• Add more ice or a splash of soda
• Opt for a lower-proof aged rum

Mocktail version:

• 2 oz grilled pineapple juice
• ½ oz rich brown sugar syrup
• 2 dashes aromatic bitters (non-alcoholic if desired)
• Stir and serve over ice with smoked garnish

Fun Variations:

• Mezcal-Pineapple Old Fashioned: use half rum, half mezcal
• Banana-Pineapple Old Fashioned: add ¼ oz banana liqueur
• Smoked Coconut Old Fashioned: use coconut fat-washed rum and toasted coconut syrup

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I use regular pineapple syrup?
Yes, but smoked or grilled pineapple adds much more depth. It’s worth the extra step.

Do I need a smoking gun?
No! Grilled or torched garnishes offer plenty of smoke. For added drama, a torch and cedar plank work wonders.

What’s the best rum to use?
Aged Caribbean rums with vanilla and oak notes—try Appleton Estate, Diplomatico, or Plantation Pineapple.

Can I batch this cocktail?
Absolutely. Combine rum, syrup, and bitters in a bottle and stir individual portions over ice.

What if I don’t like sweet drinks?
Use less syrup (try 1/8 oz) and choose a drier rum like Mount Gay Black Barrel or Rhum JM VO.

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Conclusion

The Smoked Pineapple Rum Old Fashioned is a study in contrasts—fire and fruit, sweetness and strength, tiki warmth and old fashioned discipline. It’s the kind of drink that lingers in memory and on the palate, a perfect example of how thoughtful technique and bold ingredients can elevate a classic without erasing its soul.