Treacle No. 1

The Treacle No.1 is an Old Fashioned riff with a base of dark rum, combined with simple syrup, aromatic bitters, and an apple cider float. 

This simple cocktail came together in 1990s London, care of the late Dick Bradsell, the influential bartender behind modern classic creations like the Espresso Martini and the Bramble. Essentially a rum Old Fashioned with an apple cider float, the Treacle No.1 (sometimes just referred to as the Treacle) is one of Bradsell’s lesser-known but equally delicious creations. 

Many know treacle as a sweet syrup, a byproduct of the sugar-making process, mostly sold in the UK and British colonies. Similar to molasses, this sweetener is often used in baking — often featured in sticky toffee pudding recipes — and comes in light (known as golden syrup) and black varieties. 

It's thought that Bradsell created this drink to replicate the distinctively sweet, rich, and aromatic qualities found in this favorite British staple.

What makes the Treacle No. 1 work

The Old Fashioned is a favorite classic for bartenders to riff on, with endless varieties, from Phil Ward’s agave-rich Oaxaca Old Fashioned to gin variations. 

This simple plug-and-play process has made the three-ingredient cocktail a go-to for bartenders seeking to feature a specific spirit in a familiar template. 

It’s widely believed that Bradsell’s preferred rum for the Treacle No. 1 was Myers's Original Dark Jamaican Rum, which has a distinctive Jamaican “funk” along with rich molasses, toffee and vanilla characteristics. 

This recipe calls for a half-ounce of simple syrup, which can be reduced to taste depending on the sweetness level of the apple cider used. Though Bradsell originally used a clear, sweet apple juice in his rendition, this interpretation employs an unfiltered, less sweet cider. The result is a slightly tarter, fresh-pressed apple flavor that helps to brighten the burnt caramel-like qualities in the rum. 

Angostura bitters and a large orange twist garnish lend citrus aromatics, further balancing the richness of the Treacle.