Planteray Stiggins Pineapple

Stiggins' Fancy Pineapple is a Caribbean rum from Planteray, the house also sold under the Plantation name. It is aged rum infused with Victorian pineapple, a variety the producer ties to its Victorian-era inspiration. The name comes from the Reverend Stiggins, a character in Charles Dickens' The Pickwick Papers who was fond of a drink called pineapple rum. Because the fruit is infused into the rum rather than added as flavoring afterward, expect ripe, cooked-pineapple sweetness sitting on top of the caramel, vanilla and baked-spice character that aged rum usually brings. The fruit should lead the aroma, with the rum's weight and warmth showing up in the finish. That balance makes it more useful in the glass than a typical flavored rum. Neat or over a single large cube, it works as a slow sipper, and a few degrees of chill will keep the sweetness from feeling heavy. In a Daiquiri, replacing part of the white rum with Stiggins and keeping the lime generous gives a rounder, fruitier version of the classic. In a Piña Colada it adds real pineapple depth, so you can use less juice and keep the drink from turning syrupy. A Rum Old Fashioned with a dash of Angostura or orange bitters and little or no sugar lets the infusion supply the sweetness. For a long drink, try it with soda or ginger beer and a squeeze of lime over ice. For serving, use a rocks glass for sipping or an Old Fashioned, and a highball or Collins glass for long drinks. Fill the glass with plenty of ice so the drink stays cold and dilutes slowly. A fresh pineapple wedge or leaf, an orange peel or a lime wheel are the natural garnishes. At the table, it pairs well with grilled pineapple, jerk-style chicken or pork, and desserts built on coconut, vanilla or caramel.