Spark Plug

Name: Spark Plug
Total time: 3 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 30 ml Cognac (brandy); 30 ml Rosso/sweet vermouth; 30 ml Pineapple juice; 6 drop Daiquiri bitters

Difford’s Guide

Discerning Drinkers (16)

Measurements in:

Serves:

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Ingredients
1 fl oz	Cognac (brandy)
1 fl oz	Strucchi Rosso Vermouth
1 fl oz	Pineapple juice
6 drop	Difford's Daiquiri Bitters (optional)

How to make

Glass

Photographed in a Retro Coupe

Prepare

Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
Prepare garnish of pineapple wedge.

Method

SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

Garnish with pineapple wedge on rim.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Spark Plug contains 130 calories

Alcohol content:

0.9 standard drinks
13.75% alc./vol. (27.49° proof)
13.3 grams of pure alcohol

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Rosso/rouge/sweet vermouth (di Torino) — Sulphur Dioxide/Sulphites

History

The Spark Club Cocktail first appears in Arthur Moss' "Cocktails Round Town" chapter in Harry MacElhone's 1927 Barflies and Cocktails where its creation is attributed to William Morgan DeBeck (1890–1942). Known as Billy DeBeck, he was an American cartoonist best known for his Barney Google and Snuffy Smith comic strip, featuring the characters Bunky, Snuffy Smith, and Spark Plug the racehorse. Spark Plug became a merchandising phenomenon, referred to as "the Snoopy of the 1920s."

And how does that clever cartoonist, Billy De Beck get his kick? Obviously, from his "Spark Plug Cocktail." As outlined to Barney Google, it consists of 1/3 Italian vermouth, 1 /3 brandy, and 1/3 pineapple juice. Giddap!
Arthur Moss, Barflies and Cocktails, 1927

Review

The original three-equal-parts recipe is a tad bland without the addition of a little something. Obviously, roasted pineapple and mint Daiquiri Bitters are what's required to raise this cocktail from bland to special.