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Fog Cutter

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (77)
Fog Cutter image
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
1 1⁄2 fl oz Light white rum (charcoal-filtered 1-4 years old)
1⁄2 fl oz Hayman's London Dry Gin
5⁄12 fl oz Cognac (brandy)
1⁄3 fl oz Pisco
1 1⁄2 fl oz Orange juice (freshly squeezed)
1⁄2 fl oz Monin Almond (Orgeat) Syrup
1⁄2 fl oz Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
1⁄2 fl oz Lustau Oloroso Don Nuño Sherry

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

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How to make

Glass

Photographed in a Libbey Collins 12.5oz

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill a COLLINS GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of mint sprigs.

Method

  1. SHAKE first 7 ingredients with ice.
  2. STRAIN into glass filled with crushed ice.
  3. FLOAT sherry.

Garnish

  1. Garnish with mint sprigs bouquet.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Fog Cutter contains 258 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 2 standard drinks
  • 15.5% alc./vol. (31° proof)
  • 28.7 grams of pure alcohol

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

History

A Tiki classic credited to Victor Bergeron. It first appears in his 1946 Trader Vic's Book of Food and Drink accompanied by his "TV" logo signifying that this is a Trader Vic signature cocktail. Above the recipe, he remarks, "This is delicious but a triple threat. You can get pretty stinking on these, no fooling."


FOG CUTTER
This is delicious but a triple threat. You can get pretty stinking on these, no fooling.
2 ounces Puerto Rican rum (Ron Merito, Boco Chica, or Brugal)
1 ounce brandy
½ ounce gin
1 ounce orange juice
2 ounces lemon juice
½ ounce orgeat syrup
Sherry wine float
Build this in a 14-ounce glass. Shake with cracked ice, pour into tall glass with ice, and add sherry wine float. Serve with straws.

Victor Bergeron, Trader Vic's Book of Food and Drink, 1946


The Fog Cutter also appears in his 1972 Trader Vic's Bartender's Guide (revised edition). This time, above the recipe, he says, "Fog Cutter, hell. After two of these, you won't even see the stuff."


FOG CUTTER
2 ounces light Puerto Rican rum
1 ounce brandy
½ ounce gin
2 ounces lemon juice
1 ounce orange juice
½ ounce orgeat syrup
Sweet sherry
Shake all ingredients except sherry with ice cubes. Pour into 14-ounce glass. Add more ice cubes. Add a sherry float. Serve with straws.

Victor Bergeron, 1972

More cocktails by Victor Bergeron A.K.A Trader Vic

Review

Don't be fooled by this seemingly innocuous orange-yellow long, fruity cocktail. It packs a serious punch with sweet almond notes masking its rum, gin and brandy.

Cocktail of the day:

27th December 2026 is Anniversary of London's Great Fog

Variations/similar cocktails

Fog Cutter (Bramble-style)

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$2.29 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 16.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


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Comments & Discussion

Will Moss
Well that was a real treat. Used an orange/clementine mix for the juice and a bit more orgeat and pisco than recommended. Feel the urge to experiment a bit more but this was a hit for me.
score: 1
Robert Spain
Amazing drink, but I could have spared the oloroso. It's to dissonant to sip through it, so used a straw, defeating the purpose of the float.
score: 1
Jason Gregory
Good to know, it's hard for me to get it, and the last time I bought it I think it went bad anyway, I think it said made in 2021 and I thought it lasts forever because of it's high alcohol content, but apparently it's only fresh for a couple.
score: 1
Chris Brislawn
The Fog Cutter appeared earlier in Vic's 1946 "Book of Food & Drink." Same recipe as quoted above, with NO pisco. Smuggler's Cove replaces all of the cognac with a full ounce of pisco; this is kinda like replacing the rum with arrack, and I wrote off the Fog Cutter as a shipwreck the first time I made it. Not sure replacing just half the cognac with pisco is all that much better. Tonight I followed Vic more closely (NO pisco), cutting Vic's 2 oz rum to a less keel-hauling 1.5 oz and balancing the orange and lemon juice at 1.5 oz each (I might even go to 2 oz orange : 1 oz lemon). A much more deserving concoction to serve in an appropriate (or inappropriate) tiki mug!
score: 2
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
Thanks, Chris. I've added the 1946 recipe above.
score: 0
Avery Garnett
It's complex and it's quite nice, but...not nice enough to be worth the drizzle of sherry and 4 (!) different base spirits and everything else on top.
score: 1
Miguel Perales Premium Member
Went with a 3 yr old white rum and Amontillado Sherry. For my taste ( and with all due respect to Mr. Bergeron), there is way too much going on here. But you are right Simon, it does pack a punch.
score: 1
Benjamin Boon Premium Member
One of my favorites, just made one with fresh blood oranges and a cherry heering float, good stuff!
score: 1
John Hinojos Premium Member
Loved this, but not a fan of Pisco or Sherry. So did use overproof Navy Rum for the float and (per the internet) used Glenfiddich Caribbean Reserve Whisky. It was great. Not sure how it is to the original recipe, but this mixture was outstanding. Was perfect on a warm June evening.
Thanks all.
score: 1
Arild Anda
For the home bar, Madeira is nearly always a good substitute for sherry — unless you finish the sherry bottle in a couple of weeks.
To simulate Oloroso, go for a fine rich or a sercial madeira.
score: 2
Emiel Donckels
If you don't have the sherry, can confirm that Appleton 12yo also goes great as a float
score: 3

View 9 comments and discussion

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Difford’s Shop logo
$2.29 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 16.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Visit Difford’s Shop USA

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