Fog Cutter Cocktail Recipe

Jump to Recipe ⬇️

Fog Cutter Nutrition Facts

Calories:230

Fat:0g

Protein:0g

Carbohydrates:17g

Alcohol %:22

Created by

Nic Polotnianko

I fell in love with the art of mixology 6 years ago. Since then, I've honed my skills, crafting a myriad of cocktail recipes, and sharing my passion with other enthusiasts.

Last Updated: January 7, 2024

History

The Fog Cutter is a classic tiki cocktail that was invented by Trader Vic, a renowned bartender and restaurateur. It's a potent mix of rum, brandy, and gin, sweetened with orgeat, lemon juice, and orange juice. This cocktail is known for its strong alcohol content and is often referred to as a 'long drink'. It's perfect for those who enjoy a complex, multi-layered cocktail experience.

How Fog Cutter Tastes?

The Fog Cutter is a robust cocktail with a complex flavor profile. It's strong and boozy, yet balanced with a sweet and sour tang from the citrus juices and orgeat. The gin, brandy, and rum blend seamlessly, creating a rich, layered taste that's both refreshing and invigorating.

Interesting facts about Fog Cutter

  • The Fog Cutter is often served in a tall, slender glass known as a 'hurricane glass'.
  • Despite its strong alcohol content, the Fog Cutter has a deceptive sweetness that can catch you off guard.
  • The name 'Fog Cutter' supposedly comes from the cocktail's ability to 'cut through the fog' of a hangover.

Ingredients

A few good options for Fog Cutter are:

  • Brockmans
  • Silent Pool Gin
  • Hendrick's Gin

Learn everything on which Gin to choose

Rum

The rum (2 oz) offers a sweet and somewhat spicy flavor that acts as the cocktail's backbone. Too much and you could overshadow the other elements, too little and you risk a weak foundation. Without it, you'd miss the tropical soul of the drink.

Mary Mitkina

Brandy

Brandy (1 oz) brings depth and warmth to the cocktail. It's less than rum because it's richer and you don't want to overpower the blend. Omitting brandy would lose the matured fruity essence it contributes.

Alex Green

Gin

A splash of gin (0.5 oz) gives the cocktail a herbal twist. It's only half an ounce since it's quite potent and can easily dominate smaller quantities of other flavors. No gin? You'll miss that crisp, botanical note.

Emma Rose

Orgeat

Half an ounce of orgeat syrup adds a sweet, nutty layer and is essential for authenticity. Going overboard on orgeat risks cloying sweetness. If you leave it out, the drink loses complexity. Almond syrup can be a substitute, altering the flavor slightly more towards almond.

Mary Mitkina

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice (1 oz) provides the bright acidity that balances the sweet components. Too much can make the drink tart, too little and it may become overly sweet. It's irreplaceable, but in a pinch, lime juice could twist the flavor to be a bit more zesty.

Alex Green

Orange Juice

The orange juice (2 oz) offers sweetness and a citrus counterpoint to the lemon's tartness. The amount ensures that the citrus doesn't become overpowering. Substitute it with mandarin juice for a subtly different citrus profile.

Emma Rose

Sherry

Finally, a delicate float of sherry (0.5 oz) adds a dry, nutty finish that contrasts the drink's sweetness. It’s a mere cap to the flavors beneath. Missing out on this would lose that sophisticated edge. A dry vermouth could play a similar role, though with a more herbaceous end note.

Mary Mitkina

Recipe. How to make Fog Cutter Drink

  1. Fill a shaker with ice.
  2. Add the rum, brandy, gin, orgeat, lemon juice, and orange juice.
  3. Shake well until chilled.
  4. Strain into a tall glass filled with crushed ice.
  5. Float the sherry on top.
  6. Garnish with a slice of orange and a cherry.

Pro Tips

  • Use fresh citrus juices for the best flavor.
  • Don't skip the sherry float, it adds a nice depth to the cocktail.
  • Serve with a straw to mix the sherry into the drink as you sip.

Perfect Pairings

Food Pairings

  • Grilled Seafood: The citrus notes in the Fog Cutter will complement the smokiness of grilled fish or shrimp.
  • Asian Cuisine: The sweet and sour profile great with Thai or Chinese dishes, especially those with a hint of spice.
  • Fruit-Based Desserts: Pair with a light fruit tart to echo the fruity elements of the cocktail.

Drink Pairings

  • Sparkling Water: To cleanse the palate between sips of this strong cocktail.
  • Light Beers: As a contrasting drink, choose a crisp lager or pilsner that won't overpower the Fog Cutter's flavors.

🍹 Discover the Top 50 All-Time Recipes! 🍹

Enter your email, and we'll send the exclusive list straight to your inbox.

We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously

What you could change in Fog Cutter

  • You can substitute the orgeat with almond syrup.
  • If you don't have brandy, you can use cognac or armagnac.
  • For a less boozy version, you can reduce the amount of rum and gin.

Explore all drinks starting with F here

And of course - twists🍹

Smoke Cut Hemingway

  • Substitute white rum with smoked rum, reduce orgeat to 0.25 oz, and add 0.25 oz of maraschino liqueur.
  • Recipe: Follow the original, but with the above modifications.
  • Taste: Smokier and slightly less sweet, with a complex cherry note from the maraschino.

Cutter's Garden

  • Replace gin with cucumber-infused gin, add 2 slices of cucumber to the shaker.
  • Recipe: Muddle cucumber in shaker before adding the other ingredients.
  • Taste: Adds a refreshing vegetal twist, complementing the herbal notes of gin.

Sherry Sunrise

  • Use Amontillado sherry instead of dry, and add a splash of grenadine.
  • Recipe: Before floating the sherry, add grenadine and allow it to settle at the bottom for a sunrise effect.
  • Taste: Richer and slightly sweeter with a visually appealing gradient.

In case you forgot basics how to make Fog Cutter

Add your ingredients to the shaker first, then ice. Fill it up to ¾ of its capacity to ensure enough space for shaking. Hold the shaker with both hands (one on the top and one on the bottom) and shake vigorously. The shake should come from your shoulders, not your wrists.

Learn everything on how to shake

Place your chosen strainer on top of the shaker or mixing glass, ensuring a secure fit. Pour the cocktail into a glass through the strainer, which will catch solid ingredients and ice. If double straining, hold the fine mesh strainer between the shaker and the glass.

Learn everything on how to strain

Garnishing a bar drink depends on the type of garnish and the cocktail. Generally, it involves preparing the garnish (like cutting a citrus wheel or picking a sprig of mint), and then adding it to the drink in a visually appealing way (like perching it on the rim or floating it on top).

Learn everything on garnishing

Find the cocktail you'd love!

If you want to drink something else - you can use our AI-augmented search to find the best cocktail for you!
Completely free!

Frequently Asked Questions on Fog Cutter

Why is it called a 'long drink'?

A 'long drink' typically refers to a cocktail that has a large volume because of the addition of various non-alcoholic mixer drinks. The Fog Cutter fits this description because it not only contains numerous spirits, but also a significant amount of citrus juices.

What kind of rum should I use in the Fog Cutter?

You can use any type of rum you prefer, but a dark or aged rum is often recommended to give the cocktail a deeper flavor.

What's the right way to 'float' the sherry on top?

Floating a drink involves gently pouring a liquid on top of another so that it 'floats' on the surface. You can accomplish this by using a spoon. Place the spoon upside down above your cocktail, and slowly pour the sherry over it so that the sherry gently spreads over the top.

I don't like gin. Will it affect the taste much if I omit it?

Gin does have a distinct flavor that contributes to the overall taste of the Fog Cutter. However, certain flavors carry through more subtly in certain cocktails. If you're not a fan, you don't have to include it. However, keep in mind that it could subtly affect the cocktail's taste and balance.

Are there any other types of glasses I could serve the Fog Cutter in, if I don't have a hurricane glass?

Yes, if a hurricane glass isn't available, you could use a Collins glass or any tall glass you have on hand. However, the hurricane glass is traditional for tiki cocktails like the Fog Cutter.

More similar recipes to Fog Cutter!

Explore new cocktails you'd love!

Please rate this recipe