Smoked Old Fashioned Drink Recipe

To Make It Even More Showy Use Clear Ice

The ice you use matters! Well assume youre a seasoned home bartender if youre trying a smoked Old Fashioned. Since its all about presentation, we highly recommend using clear ice. What is it?

• Clear ice is crystal clear ice: instead of cloudy ice that forms when you use an ice tray. You can cut clear ice into larger, organic shapes that look just like a drink from a fancy bar.
• Make it at home! Its the best way to step up your homemade cocktail game, and it takes only 24 hours. Heres How to Make Clear Ice.

What Is An Old Fashioned

If youve been to my site before you know old fashioneds are one of my go-to cocktails. For me, a great old fashioned celebrates the whiskey inside it. Its one of the very first cocktails developed and consists of whiskey, bitters, and sugar. My basic Old Fashioned recipe and the history of the old fashioned can be found here: How to Make a Perfect Old Fashioned.

I love brown sugar simple syrup and orange bitters along with a 100 proof bourbon. I want to taste the bourbon and I want it to be elevated by the addition of the simple and the bitters.

Smoked Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe

The Smoked Old-Fashioned Cocktail is a variation on the traditional Old-Fashioned. This is a classic cocktail a drink out of time and fashion. Its sophistication and at the same time simplicity have made it popular for over 200 years.

The classic Old-Fashioned was discovered around 1800, before the word cocktail itself came into use. It was a very simple drink, bourbon or brandy with bitters, water and sugar. The cocktail acquired its name a little more than half a century later, when a wide variety of such drinks appeared and it became necessary to highlight the very original cocktail.

By the way, Old Fashioned is included in the list of official IBA cocktails of the International Bartenders Association and is recognized all over the world. This means that there is an official definition of a drink, a kind of standard, it contains:

• Bourbon or rye whiskey
• Angostura bitter

Over time, the classic recipe has changed, supplemented depending on regional and cultural characteristics. A similar cocktail was mixed, including on the basis of absinthe, vodka, brandy, Curacao and other liqueurs. Later they began to add soda water, gin.

Various spices and flavorings were added. And so the Smoked Old-Fashioned Cocktail was born. Its main feature, as the name suggests, is the addition of smoke. Who is its author and when exactly it arose is not known for certain.

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Smoked Cocktail Ideas Youll Love

Some say not to mess with a good thing. But in the world of cocktails, thats what you should do!

This sophisticated classic gets revamped with a modern spin that takes time and dedication to craft.

Specifically, youll need to smoke some fresh cherries to make the simple syrup.

Combine that with some bitters and campfire whiskey, and you have a tantalizing after-dinner sipper.

If you feel inspired, you can even experiment with different types of wood chips. They add more complexity to the simple syrup.

How Do You Add Smoke To A Classic Cocktail By Infusing It With Smoke Of Course

Adding smoke to this classic cocktail adds depth of flavor that complements the bourbon, while the simple syrup is infused with rosemary, which also plays a role as a swizzle stick. Serve this at your next party for a great conversation piece!

The smoke in this recipe is achieved by using a tool called the smoking gun, which is a hand held cold smoker. By infusing the cocktail with a cloud of smoke and letting it infuse the bourbon, you easily and quickly add nice smokiness. You can use different types of fuel for the smoking gun such as crushed up cigar or even tea to experiment with different flavors! The possibilities are endless!

What I normally do is pour the bourbon of choice into a pitcher and infuse the pitcher with smoke from the smoking gun and cover it with plastic wrap to trap the smoke in. Then, when Im ready to make the cocktail, the bourbon is already nice and smoky.

How to Make Smoked Ice For Cocktails

If you dont have a smoking gun, there are other ways to add smoke to cocktails. The next time you smoke something, put a pan of water on your smoker. Let it sit there for the duration of your cook. When finished, use cheesecloth to strain any bits of ash out before pouring into an ice cube mold.

Are you following me on Instagram? If not, you should because youll get behind the scenes cool tips and ideas like this! Give me a follow @grillgirlrobyn

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Cocktail Of The Week: Sesame

Your standard old fashioned of whiskey, syrup and bitters, but with a special sesame-infused dram and a dash of pure theatre to finish

This is a gloriously grown-up concoction in which the sesame oil imparts a gently smoky backnote to the whiskey thats accentuated by the aromas from the wood smoke thats introduced later. The infusion makes enough for five servings and keeps well.

How To Make The Simple Syrup For This Smokey Old Fashioned

Now, for the simple syrup, I used raw sugar, but if you dont have that you could do a simple syrup with 1 cup water, and 1/2 cup light brown sugar and 1/2 cup white sugar for a very good approximation of it.

I heat up 1 cup of water in the microwave, add the sugars and stir until everything is dissolved. I then store it in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.

And if youd like to really play, see if youve got some sorghum in your pantry, and create a simple with that as your sweetener. It adds a lot more earthly, full-bodied notes to the cocktail than a straight white sugar simple syrup. This is best made with a 2:1 ratio of sorghum to hot water. Again, once made, this should be stored in the fridge.

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Best Bourbon For Old Fashioned

Some of our family favorites include Whistlepig , Knob Creek 9 Year Bourbon-Whiskey and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

If you are a bourbon and whiskey lover, you can best out my Best Bourbon for Old Fashioned article which goes into great depth about many bourbon recommendations and other tricks of the trade.

Overview Of The Ingredients

The ingredients of the Smoked Old Fashioned are identical to the ingredients of a regular Old Fashioned. You will need to pick your alcohol, either straight rye or bourbon. Both of these alcohols are used for Old Fashioned interchangeably because of their deep silky flavors, and their roots in American history.

You will need to properly muddle a single sugar cube with Angostura bitters. These aromatic floral bitters are an essential part of the Old Fashioned cocktail. These botanical additions stimulate our olfactory senses, which compliments the flavour of the alcohol.

Did you ever notice that citrus will make its way into cocktails about 95% of the time? This is because the acidity of fruit helps to cut through very strong flavors. By cutting through these flavors, we can actually better experience them.

For Smoked Old Fashioned it is necessary to include the peel from an orange. All citrus rinds will bitter over time due to the natural oils found in the peel. Once crushed and exposed to air, these oils start to breakdown, which leads to release of bitter flavors. Using an orange peel will add brighter notes and more complex flavors to your beverage.

A smoked Old Fashioned also calls for a bright red cherry to garnish the beverage. This bright pop of red is usually seen on a Manhattan, but in this scenario the Smoked Old Fashioned is borrowing this accessory from its East-coast cousin.

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How To Smoke A Cocktail Glass For An Old

There’s nothing quite like a well-made cocktail, especially when it has a smoky flavor to it. And the easiest way to infuse your drinks with that smoky essence is to smoke the glassware. It sounds complicated, but it’s actually quite fun and simple. All you need is a piece of rosemary, a culinary torch, a hardy piece of wood, and a cocktail glass.

History Of The Smoked Old Fashioned

The old fashioned was created in the 1800s. The simple ingredients and the strong flavors of the cocktail have withstood the test of time, and this cocktail continues to reign as one of the most popular beverages ordered in America.

The core ingredients include rye or bourbon, sugar, and bitters. Many consider this cocktail to be strong in alcohol flavour, but sipping the beverage is the secret to enjoying the harmonious flavors from the ingredients.

Now, smoked cocktails are popping up more frequently on the bar scene. Whether it is with food or in drink, Americans love the smokey taste. The first smoked cocktail ever made was in 2007, in a bar in New York City. Barman Eben Freeman mixed up smoked Coca-Cola with bourbon, and we have not looked back since.

A Smoked Old Fashioned is a natural fit because whiskey lovers tend to prefer flavors within the savory arena. It has been said that if you enjoy the flavors of whiskey and rye, you will enjoy smoked products and drinks too .

Smoked cocktails modifies the flavour of the cocktail, but the true wow factor of the beverage is in the presentation. When done correctly, receiving a smoked cocktail feels like a magic show reveal. You almost cant believe that you can actually drink whatever is under all that wispy smoke.

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Tools Youll Need To Make This Recipe

Here are a few essential tools youll need to make this Smoked Old Fashioned Recipe

• A culinary torch to smoke and infuse the glass. Oh, and don’t forget the butane fuel too!

• Crystal cocktail mixing glass to gently mix the drink without bruising the whiskey.

• A 2-sided Jigger to measure the perfect amount of alcohol every time.

• A Hawthorne cocktail strainer is an essential tool for any home bartender.

• This set of 6 crystal double old-fashioned glasses are just the right size and style for sipping your Smoked Rosemary Old Fashioned.

• This lovely 3-piece glass bitters set is a fantastic way to display your orange and angostura bitters, as well as other aromatized spirits, on your home bar cart.

• A garnish/vegetable peeler is the best way to get the perfect orange peel garnish for your smoked old-fashioned.

More About The Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned gets its name because it started as literally the cocktail. The first cocktail in existence! It was first documented in the early 1800s by a New York paper. Once more cocktails started coming along in the 1806s, they needed a name for that original whiskey cocktail. The Old Fashioned was born.

The Old Fashioned is a classic alcoholic drink on the list of International Bartender Associations IBA official cocktails. This means that theres an official definition of the drink, which is:

• Bourbon or rye whiskey

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How To Make Smoked Old Fashioned Cocktails:

• Add ice to a rocks glass.
• Next, add smoked simple syrup.

• Use a cocktail jigger to measure whiskey.

• Squeeze a bit of the orange into the glass and add as a garnish. Alternately, add a couple of dashes of the bitters.
• Stir to mix well.
• Serve immediately.

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Fun Facts About The Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned is the official cocktail of Louisville, where it was said to be created. Whipped up and served in a Gentlemans Club- not surprisingly- considering it was in the late 1800s. I think the ladies were still banned or at least discouraged from public displays of well, anything. Ah my how times have changed!

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Crafted Carefully Drink Responsibly

WOODFORD RESERVE is a registered trademark. ©2022 Brown-Forman. All rights reserved. Please do not share or forward this content to anyone under the legal drinking age.

To learn more about responsible consumption, please visit Responsibility.org and Our Thinking About Drinking. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

Smoked Old Fashioned Cocktail

Infused with hickory smoke, this Smoked Old Fashioned lands somewhere between the manliest cocktail ordered at the local pub and something your grandmother drank. Its sweetened, seasoned and garnished with orange zest for a balanced, smoky bourbon with a seductive white vapor swirling around the glass. Youll want to sip this one slowly to savor the wood-fired flavor.

About the cocktail: Legend has it that the Old Fashioned was invented in Louisville, Kentucky by James E. Pepper, bartender and esteemed bourbon aristocrat, before he brought the recipe to the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel bar in New York City.

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Best Bourbons For This Smoked Old Fashioned

So go to your bourbon cabinet and find a barrel-strength bourbon . I recommend Pikesville Rye or Wild Turkey Rare Breed. Both are bar staples for me because of their aggressive and complex flavor profiles and their easy availability here in Kentucky.

Because were adding both smoke and heat flavors to this smoked cocktail, make sure that the whiskey flavors still stand up to the addition of high-proof, smoked accents to the cocktail. To do that, look for bourbons and ryes over 100 proof and ones that have a great bite and finish to them.

Smoky Harvest Apple Cider Margarita

Celebrate the change of seasons with this festive libation. It tastes like summer and fall all in one old fashioned glass.

Mezcal adds a smoky element that melds harmoniously with the sweet orange liqueur and apple cider. There is also a kiss of maple syrup to seal the deal.

The offerings dont end there because the glass gets rimmed in cinnamon and sugar too.

While the smoking cinnamon stick is optional, its that extra little something that will leave your guests speechless.

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Want To Make A Smoky Old Fashioned Cocktail

You know you do! So lets get to it. Ill walk you through step by step and then the full recipe will be further down the page.

Gather your ingredients. *refer to the recipe- not all ingredients are shown below*

Donnie chose these Jack Daniels Whiskey -Oak Barrel Smoking Chips which worked fabulously. I need to get some of those and fire up the smoker this fall. Ribs any one? Ready to light it up?!

You want to get your wood chips smoking and have your glass ready! Torch them with the flame at its highest until they ignite a bit and begin to smoke.

Then catch the smoke as you turn the glass over on top of the wood chips so it sits flush on the plate. The idea is to trap the smoke in the glass. I can totally vouch- this makes a tremendous difference in the flavor of the drink. I feel like this goes without saying but, if you are not a fan of smokey stuff or bourbon- this is not the drink for you. Maybe try my Boozy Bunny Shots or this Pirates Strawberry Daiquiri Cocktail. Hey, everyones different! Its cool.

Set the smoky glass aside to work while you make your Old Fashioned. It should be looking something like this below.

Back To The Step By Step

Strain your Smoky Old Fashioned into your smoky glass that has been waiting, with a giant ice cube if you have it. Regular ice will do but you know what they say- the bigger the better!

Awesome, almost there! Now for the garnish you will twist an additional lemon rind over the drink. For those of you who doubt you can squeeze much from a lemon rind I beg to differ

Crazy, right!? Who knew there was so much going on in that little peel!

And, there you have it!

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What About The Smoking Gun

Ill admit I was kind of excited to try a smoked cocktail as they look amazing and are perfect for so many different drinks and foods.

A smoking gun is a tool that is used to cold smoke food. It is a small handheld device that adds smoke without heat making it suitable for use inside.

Most smoking guns, , come with wood chips so you are all set to go.

You can use a smoking gun to make all kinds of neat things from smoked cheese and meat to fun cocktails like this smoked old fashioned!

Although they can look a bit intimidating, it only takes a few minutes to get your smoking gun up and running and they are really easy to use.

Heres the one I have. I got it from Amazon and it has great reviews.

Other than the smoking gun, you dont need any other tools to make this cocktail other than a jigger or measuring cup.

Smoked Old Fashioned For The Discerning Bourbon Drinker

If youre a classic old fashioned drinker you probably arent interested in adding a lot of different things to your cocktail. You want it to taste like an old fashioned and you want to taste the whiskey. A lot.

Youre in luck. Ive got a classic old fashioned with just one small tweak. I added some bitters that are smoky and have a tiny bit of heat in them .

But if you dont have bitters with smoke in them, head to my article Four Easy Ways To Smoke a Cocktail at Home for 4 easy ways to add smoke to a cocktail.

For this one, youll like the smoked old fashioned best if you make it with raw sugar to create a 1:1 demerara simple solution and use a barrel-proof bourbon or rye. This one will put hair on your chest. For a little more information on how to make simple syrups, head to my guide here: Everything About Simple Syrups.

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