We’ve taken the classic Manhattan cocktail and elevated it with a sophisticated touch of smoke that will transform your home bar experience. This isn’t just another Manhattan recipe – it’s an exploration into the deep, complex flavors that made this cocktail a legend in the first place. You deserve more than just mixing spirits; you deserve an experience that engages all your senses.
What Is a Smoked Manhattan Cocktail?
The Smoked Manhattan is our modern interpretation of the classic Manhattan, where smoke from oak or cherry wood adds an extra dimension to the traditional blend of rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. The smoke infusion introduces subtle layers of complexity that complement the spicy notes of rye and the herbal qualities of vermouth.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
What You Need to Make a Smoked Manhattan Cocktail
How to Make a Smoked Manhattan Cocktail
- Prepare your smoking station by placing wood chips on a plank in a safe area.
- Chill your coupe glass with ice while gathering ingredients.
- Light the wood chips until they produce a steady smoke.
- Empty the ice and capture the smoke by inverting the glass over the chips.
- While the glass smokes, combine rye, vermouth, and bitters over ice in a mixing glass.
- Stir precisely 15 times to achieve proper dilution and temperature.
- Release the smoke, strain the cocktail into the glass, and finish with expressed orange oils and a cherry.
Light the wood chips and smoke the glass.
Add the ingredients.
Stir.
Strain into smoked cocktail glass.
Expert Recipe Tips
- Temperature Control: Keep your vermouth refrigerated and your mixing efficient to maintain optimal serving temperature.
- Smoke Duration: 30 seconds is ideal – longer can overwhelm the delicate balance of flavors.
- Wood Selection: Experiment with different wood types, like cherry or oak wood chiups but avoid resinous woods like pine or cedar.
How to Serve This Smoked Manhattan Cocktail
Serve in a chilled coupe glass immediately after smoking. The presentation should capture that magical moment when the smoke releases, creating an engaging sensory experience.
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Smoked Manhattan Cocktail Recipe
Equipment
- Wood chips we use Western Wood BBQ smoking chips, oak or cherry for this recipe
- Wood plank for smoking
- Torch Small handheld butane torch
- Glass Coupe glass or Highball glass
Ingredients
For the manhattan cocktail:
- 2 oz rye whiskey
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes of black walnut bitters
- Orange peel
Garnish:
- Dark Maraschino cherry
Instructions
- Place ice in a coupe glass
- Meanwhile, prepare your mise en place by gathering all of your ingredients.
- Place the wood plank on a safe work surface or on a baking sheet.
- Place a small handful of woodchips on the plank in the center.
- Using a torch, light the woodchips until they are just smoking.
- Quickly remove the ice from the glass, and flip it over the woodchips, trapping the smoke inside.
- Let the glass sit for 30 seconds while you mix the cocktail.
- Add ice to a cocktail shaker.
- Pour the rye, vermouth, and bitters over the top.
- With a long spoon, stir 15 times to mix.
- Flip the cocktail glass over, allowing the aromatics to be enjoyed, and immediately strain the chilled Manhattan in the glass.
- Twist an orange peel over the top to express the oils and garnish with a maraschino cherry.
- Serve immediately.
Recipe FAQs
A: No, the smoke effect and flavor are best when served immediately.
A: While a torch is ideal, you can use a carefully monitored smoking gun or traditional smoker box.
A: We recommend a high-proof rye (100+ proof) to stand up to the smoke element.
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