Passion for fassion.

Fassionola,also known as passionola,is a sweet syrup used in some Tiki drink recipes. It’s bright red like grenadine,but much more berry flavored. It is a bit rare though,as only a couple companies make it. Part of this has to do with the crazy history of the stuff.

It is believed to have been created around 1916 by a German immigrant named Victor Kremer. He was a druggist,and back then drug stores often contained a soda bar. Victor and his wife created a passionfruit flavored syrup for sodas and ice cream. It was originally called Passiflora,then the name was changed to Passionola. It was made in three colors: red,which was berry flavored,gold,which was passionfruit flavored,and green,which was lime flavored. At the time it was pretty much just used for soda and ice cream,although it and other flavorings were used to make drug cocktails as well(ever wonder where the ‘coke’ in Coca-Cola came from?). Several companies were involved in producing it,but it wasn’t until around 1956 when the Jonathan English Company took up the mantle,and they continue to produce it today. Don Beach is sometimes credited with being involved with passionola,but neither he or Trader Vic used the stuff until much later in the ’60’s and ’70’s. Passionola pretty much was out of the realm of Tiki until that time. It also took a hit in the ’60’s,when it became associated with so-called ‘stag pills’:

(From the upcoming book Fassionola by Martin Lindsay. Doesn’t sound much different from today’s ads,does it?)

Passionola was mentioned by name in the 1963 Congressional report,Frauds and Quackery Affecting the Older Citizen, Hearings Before the Special Committee on Aging, United States Senate. A year later,the US patent office granted a patent for fassionola,which helped disassociate the syrup from the scandal. It was after this Don and Vic started using it in some of their drinks,since now it didn’t have a negative connotation. Today it’s being used more and more as an exotic ingredient in modern Tiki drinks. BG Reynolds makes it in limited batches,so you have to get on their mailing list or check their site to see when it’s available. Jonathan English is still making it,in several flavors,but they don’t sell online. You either have to visit them in person,or search for listings on eBay(which is where I acquired mine). There are also a couple of small batch companies making it,but you’ll have to do some searching for them.

So enough history,let’s get to mixing. Here’s a few Giltron approved recipes I think you’ll like. Enjoy!

Mix #190 Pi-Yi

1oz light Cuban rum*
3.4oz gold Cuban rum*
1oz pineapple juice
1/2oz lime juice
1/2oz passionola red
1tsp honey syrup
1 dash Angostura bitters

Blend with 6oz crushed ice for five seconds and pour into hollowed-out pineapple.

*Since Cuban rum is hard to come by,you can substitute Virgin Islands or Puerto Rican rum.

Created by Donn Beach around 1937,this has a sweet start with a tart finish. No,i didn’t use a hollowed-out pineapple,I’ve done that once already. It’s a nice summer-y drink that’s not too strong.

Mix #191 Cannibal Cooler

3/4oz Plantation 3 Star rum
3/4oz Plantation Original Dark rum
1/2oz Plantation OFTD
1.5oz orange juice
3/4oz lime juice
3/4oz fassionola
1/4oz cinnamon syrup
1.5oz club soda

Flash blend everything except soda. Pour into tall glass,top with soda and stir.

Another Jason Alexander creation,it has a nice sweet/tart blend with citrus and a cinnamon finish with plenty of kick. Another excellent cocktail from the master. (bonus cool points if you saw the movie the pic is from)

Mix #192 Welcome to Georgetown

1.5oz El Dorado 3
1/2oz Lemon Hart 151
1/2oz creme de cacoa
3/4oz fassionola
1/2oz lemon juice

Shake with ice and strain into coupe glass. Add some grated nutmeg to top.

From master mixologist Brian Maxwell ,this is sweet,the fassionola comes forward and the chocolate finishes with some spice from the nutmeg. The 151 gives it kick. A bit of a foo-foo drink but I liked it.

Mix #193 Alucard’s Cup Of Blood

1oz Plantation Isle of Fiji rum
1oz Wray & Nephew overproof rum
1oz pineapple juice
1oz lemon juice
1/2oz falernum
1/2oz fassionola
1 dash Angostura bitters
1 dash absinthe

Blend with crushed ice and pour into Mai Tai glass. Garnish with something spooky.

Created by Facebook user Andrew Campbell,this blood red drink has a nice sweet/tart blend with plenty of funk and plenty of kick. Will definitely bring this back out for Halloween.

Mix #33 Megalodon

1oz Lemon Hart 151
1oz white rum
1.25oz lime juice
1oz agave syrup
1tsp red fassionola

Blend with a cup of ice for 5sec.

Just had to repost this since it’s so good it’s in my regular roster of mixes. Delicious with plenty of kick.

Find a bottle of fassionola and try something new. You can even sub it for grenadine to mix things up. Hipa Hipa,i ke ola!