Toasted Marshmallow Old Fashioned cocktail recipe

If it’s been a while since you’ve sat around an open fire toasting marshmallows, you might’ve forgotten there’s a bit of an art to it. Too close and you’ll end up with a molten mess and blisters on the roof of your mouth (don’t ask how we know). Get it right, however, and you’ll have a tasty treat that’s equal parts sugary sweet, toasty and gooey, which makes the perfect addition to this cocktail – in both syrup and garnish form.

In essence, this is a riff on the classic Old Fashioned, but instead of bourbon, we’ve subbed in aged Spanish rum (you’ll thank us later). The cocktail is relatively easy to make and comes together quickly once you’ve done the hard part, which is toasting those marshmallows to perfection and making your syrup. Of course, nothing beats an open fire, but any stovetop flame or kitchen torch will do. Just remember to be super patient and toast the marshmallows slowly, as this will affect the flavour of your marshmallow syrup.

The beauty of this cocktail lies in its balance of flavours, which combines the vanilla and toasty sweetness of the marshmallows with the spicy flavours of the aged Spanish rum. The dash of salt and Angostura Bitters are the perfect finishing touches that stop the cocktail from being too over the top.

With just a handful of ingredients, the style of rum you choose plays a big part in the flavour of the drink. That’s why we’ve gone for an “aged Spanish rum”, as they have a perfumed aroma with gentle vanilla and baking spice hints that mesh effortlessly with the flavours of the toasted marshmallows. Other rum styles won’t work as well, so it’s worth adding a bottle to your bar cart if you don’t have one already.

Another top tip is using a large block of ice rather than regular ice cubes, as you don’t want to dilute the flavours of the cocktail when the ice inevitably melts.

After toasting the marshmallows to perfection for your syrup, you might be tempted to skip the final step that really brings the whole cocktail together: the toasted marshmallow garnish. Don’t cheat and use a plain old marshmallow, as the smell of one that’s been perfectly toasted is what’ll set your senses into overdrive before you’ve taken a sip (not to mention the joy of eating it along the way).

Toasted marshmallows not your thing? Give the classic Old Fashioned a go instead, or perhaps the Rum Old Fashioned, or step it up another notch and go for the Bacon Washed Old Fashioned