Go Back
A Fog Cutter cocktail served in a Tiki glass in front of a framed picture of John Lennon.

Fog Cutter

Print Recipe
A Tiki classic with a little less flourish than would be expected, the Fog Cutter has plenty of booze. This cocktail is usually credited to either Trader Vic or Donn Beach, but its creation is up for debate.
Like a lot of Tiki drinks, this cocktail calls for a variety of ingredients but, once you have them lined up, isn't terribly difficult to make. Other than the Orgeat (which you can easily make at home), there's nothing too difficult to source, so it's a great introduction to the Tiki style.
Since the Fog Cutter has plenty of liquid, we like to serve this drink in a nice big Tiki style glass. If you don't have silly Tiki glasses at home, that's fine. A nice tall glass or a Collins glass works well too.
But watch out, this drink is strong. As they say about the Fog Cutter: "Fog Cutter, hell. After two of these, you won't even see the stuff."
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 cocktail

Ingredients

  • 45 mL White Rum
  • 15 mL Gin
  • 15 mL Brandy
  • 60 mL Orange Juice
  • 30 mL Lemon Juice
  • 15 mL Almond Syrup or Orgeat*
  • 15 mL Sherry
  • Garnish with sprig of mint

Instructions

  • Put Rum, Gin, Brandy, Orange Juice, Lemon Juice, and Orgeat into a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice. Shake everything until cold.
  • Strain into a tall glass with ice. If you have fun Tiki glasses, even better!
  • Float the Sherry on the top of the drink by pouring it slowly over the top of a bar spoon. You shouldn't be aiming to mix the Sherry and the rest of the cocktail, you want it on top of the drink.
  • Garnish, enjoy.

Notes

*Although you can buy Orgeat, it's pretty easy to make. Orgeat recipe here.
Make sure all juices are fresh and all spirits are of high quality for drinks like this. It's a great cocktail, don't diminish it with poor ingredients.
The Fog Cutter was traditionally served in a ceramic mug at Trader Vic's bars but, as mentioned, anything will work, especially if it's a Tiki style glass. Personally, we prefer a glass because then you can see the Sherry as a separate element to the drink. It's fun!
As emphasised, the Fog Cutter is a pretty strong drink so approach this cocktail with caution. The large amount of alcohol is easily hidden behind the fruit juices and the Orgeat, so it's possible to drink this drink a little fast. There are variations of this recipe that cut down on the booze somewhat, which may be a good idea if you're having a few of these.