NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is partnering with Planteray Rum to unveil Fancy A Stiggins – a new cocktail competition inviting bartenders across the U.S. and Canada to show off their creativity with one extraordinary ingredient, the Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Rum, for the opportunity to win an experience of a lifetime in France this summer.
Timed to culminate during Planteray’s Tropical Week (May 12–18), this challenge calls on bartenders to craft original cocktails that capture the tropical soul of Stiggins’ Fancy. What’s up for grabs? A bartender’s dream trip to France during the final week of June 2025, when two grand prize winners will receive an all-expenses-paid journey to attend Planteray’s legendary Stiggins’ Ball in Cognac—joining an international crew of standout bartenders to create their very own batch of Stiggins’ Fancy.
Winners will also be whisked off for a whirlwind two-day tour of some of Paris’ most renowned cocktail bars, capped by a private visit to Maison Ferrand’s Barge 166—the world’s first floating cellar—moored on the storied River Seine.
First crafted as tribute to the Tales of the Cocktail Apprentice Program – whose volunteers embody the pineapple’s long history as an icon of hospitality and generosity – Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Rum has become a fixture on the global bar scene. With its luscious tropical depth, gentle spice, and unmistakable roasted pineapple aroma, it’s a spirit like no other — thanks to Planteray’s meticulous process of infusing and re-distilling real Queen Victoria pineapples in their full-flavored blends of rum.
The brand’s partnership with Tales of the Cocktail Foundation marks a shared commitment to supporting and inspiring the global bar community:
“Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is thrilled to collaborate with Planteray Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Rum to celebrate the ingenuity and passion of bartenders,” said Taylor Barron, director of partnerships in a release about the event. “Through this partnership, we aim to inspire innovation, foster community, and create meaningful opportunities for bartenders to engage with a brand that values their craft.”
To enter, bartenders must submit an original recipe featuring at least one ounce of Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Rum. All submissions must be submitted through a fully-digital entry process at talesofthecocktail.org/get-involved/fancy-a-stiggins. Entries will be evaluated on creativity, technique, and how the cocktail showcases the rum’s signature character.
Daiquiris and Mai Tais are welcome, of course, but the competition encourages bold interpretations and fresh expressions that stretch Stiggins’ Fancy into new territory. Recipes should be crafted with both professional replication and guest enjoyment in mind—cocktails designed to be made by bartenders everywhere and savored around the world.
Winners will be announced shortly after Tropical Week, wrapping up a seven-day celebration of rum-fueled creativity around the globe.
For more information about Tales of the Cocktail Foundation and its year-round initiatives, visit talesofthecocktail.org. Tales of the Cocktail 2025 takes place in New Orleans, July 20–25. #TOTC2025
