Treacle Cocktail Recipe

This Treacle cocktail is like autumn in a rocks glass — dark rum, bitters, a little apple, a whisper of orange. It’s rich, kinda smoky-sweet, and takes no time to make. Good for slow evenings, moody playlists, and not talking to anyone for a bit.

Ingredients Needed

For the Drink:

• 1 tsp sugar syrup (2 parts sugar, 1 part water)
• 3 dashes orange bitters
• 2 parts Bacardi 8 Year Old Rum (about 60ml total)
• 1 part cloudy apple juice (around 30ml)

For Assembling:

• Orange twist
• Ice cubes

How To Make Treacle Cocktail

1. Start the Base: Add the sugar syrup and orange bitters to a rocks glass. Just straight in. No need for a shaker or anything here.
2. Add First Ice & Rum: Toss in 2 cubes of ice and a splash (about 10ml) of the rum. Stir slowly — you’re waking it up.
3. Build the Layers: Add more ice, then pour in the rest of the rum. Stir again. You’re looking for that velvety, chilled texture.
4. Top With Juice: Now pour in the cloudy apple juice. Just a little. Not enough to make it sweet — just enough to soften the rum’s edge.
5. Garnish & Serve: Twist a strip of orange peel over the glass, then drop it in. That’s it. Done.

Why I Love This Recipe

Made it once when I wanted something Old Fashioned-ish but not full-on whiskey. Had an open bottle of rum, bit of cloudy juice left in the fridge. Tossed them together and — yeah. It worked. It’s got that grown-up, slow-sipping feel with a cozy apple backnote. One of those drinks that feels a bit fancy but doesn’t ask much of you.

Recipe Tips

• Use dark, aged rum. Bacardi 8 is great — smooth and rich.
• Cloudy apple juice adds body — don’t use clear, it tastes flat.
• Stir gently but long enough — you want dilution, not just chill.
• Orange bitters make a big difference. Don’t skip.
• Adjust sweetness by changing the sugar syrup.
• Use a big ice cube if you’ve got it — melts slower.
• Orange twist adds aroma — twist it over the drink to release the oils.

How To Store Treacle Cocktail

• At Room Temperature: Only the rum and syrup, not the full drink.
• In the Fridge: You can batch the cocktail without ice. Keeps 2 days in a sealed jar.
• In the Freezer: Not ideal — the apple juice doesn’t freeze well. But you can chill pre-mixed portions.
• Reheating: Nope. Not for this one. Always served cold.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

• Calories: ~185 kcal
• Carbs: 10g
• Protein: 0g
• Fat: 0g
• Sugar: 9g
• Fibre: 0g
• Sodium: 4mg

Let’s Answer a Few Questions!

• Q: What’s the best rum for this?
  A: Any decent aged or dark rum. Bacardi 8 is a good choice, but anything rich and not too sweet will do.
• Q: Can I skip the sugar syrup?
  A: You could, but the drink might feel a little flat. It balances the bitters and rum.
• Q: Can I shake this cocktail?
  A: Not really. It’s meant to be built in the glass and stirred — shaking makes it too frothy.
• Q: What if I only have clear apple juice?
  A: It’ll work, just won’t have that thick, almost cider-like finish.