Sly Dog brings Pure Fire to RTD category

British rum brand Sly Dog has joined forces with Ed Sheeran-backed chicken wing restaurant Ginger Wings to craft a ready-to-drink (RTD) edition of its signature serve.

Pure Fire is the debut RTD to come from the Sly Dog Rum brand, which was founded by brothers Louis and Bruce Goddard-Watts in 2020 with the primary motivation of modernising the spiced rum category. The 200ml Pure Fire cans offer a premium version of the brand’s signature serve, the Spiced ‘n’ Stormy, comprising Sly Dog Spiced Rum, ginger beer, bitters and lime juice, and elevated with the addition of Ginger Wings’ ‘famous’ spice. At 8% ABV per can, the serve offers notes of toasted spice and candied ginger along with ginger spice with a peppery kick. The Marlow-based Ginger Wings restaurant is the brainchild of Jack Blumenthal – son of Michelin-starred TV chef Heston Blumenthal – and Leigh Jones. The collaboration between the two brands came about when long-time friends Louis and Blumenthal asked the question: ‘what if we made a drink that hit as hard as your wings?’. Speaking exclusively to The Spirits Business, Louis explained: “Friendship made the collaboration easy – but flavour made it unstoppable. We’ve taken our cunningly crafted rum and paired it with the boldest wings to create something with real bite. Pure Fire is exactly what it says on the can – a big, unapologetic hit of spice and spirit that can turn up any occasion.” The two brands teamed up at the Marlow edition of Pub in the Park earlier this summer, alongside record label Famous When Dead, and will join forces again for the St Albans iteration in September, where the cans will be available for festival-goers. The RTD will also be on sale at Ginger Wings Marlow, as well as at the Tap Tavern in Richmond, where Ginger Wings is popping up for the rest of the summer, as well as at Ed Sheeran’s pub Bertie Blossoms in Notting Hill. The limited edition cans will also be available for preorder from tomorrow (14 August) from the Sly Dog Rum website, priced at £3 (US$4) each. In addition, customers who purchase a bottle of Sly Dog Spiced Rum or Sly Dog Stoned Fruit will receive a can of Pure Fire for free.