Immerse in the heady sophistication of a Smoked Old Fashioned. This modern spin on a beloved classic weaves together bourbon’s robust charm with the subtle, aromatic nuance of wood smoke.
The best cocktail recipes all have something in common – they’re balanced and smooth, like this Smoked Old Fashioned cocktail.
Allegedly hailing from a private social club in Louisville, Kentucky, in the 1800s, the Old Fashioned is a classic drink made with bourbon whiskey, sugar, an orange twist or peel, and topped with a maraschino cherry.
While we love a good classic drink, we have this habit of turning classic cocktails into smoky sensations, like this Smoked Gin and Tonic and Dirty Smoked Martini. Whether you’re a serious bourbon drinker or dipping your toes into the cocktail game, you can’t go wrong with this Smoked Old Fashioned recipe.
What Is a Smoked Old Fashioned?
This tempting libation is a smokier rendition of the classic old fashioned. It’s crafted with the same ingredients, except we infuse a bit of smoke into the glass for a modern twist. We do this by igniting flavorful wood chips and trapping the billowing smoke in an old fashioned glass. The result? A smooth, silky drink that whispers sweet, smoky notes in every sip.
What You Need to Make this Smoked Cocktail
- Sugar Cube
- Orange Peel
- Angostura Bitters
- Ice
- Bourbon Whiskey
- Cocktail Cherry
You will also need:
- Cocktail Smoker
- Wood Chips
- Chef’s Torch
How to Make This Tasty Cocktail
This smoked bourbon cocktail is a fun twist on the classic cocktail, made with smooth bourbon, a sugar cube, Angostura bitters, and an orange peel garnish, perfect for bourbon and whiskey lovers.
Prepare the Smoke Infusion
In a glass or small bowl, place a sugar cube and some orange rind. Place the cocktail smoker on top and add a teaspoon of wood chips. Now, light those wood chips with a chef’s torch and let the smoke work its magic. Leave it for about 2 minutes to infuse the sugar and orange with that incredible smoky goodness.
Build the Cocktail
Transfer the infused sugar cube to a rocks glass. Make sure it’s a generous amount. Next, give that sugar cube a good soaking by saturating it with Angostura bitters. Muddle it gently to release all those wonderful flavors.
Add Ice and Whiskey
Half-fill the glass with ice, ensuring you have a nice chill for your cocktail. Then, pour in your preferred whiskey, letting it mingle with the flavors of the infused sugar and bitters.
The Finishing Touch
Drop in a smoked orange peel and a cherry to give your cocktail that extra flair. These little additions add bursts of flavor and a touch of elegance to your drink.
More Smoke, Please
Place the cocktail smoker over the top of the drink, making sure it’s a good fit. Fill the smoker with another teaspoon of wood chips and use the chef’s torch to light them up. Let that smoke infuse the cocktail for about a minute. The longer you leave it, the smokier it gets.
Serve and Savor
Remove the cocktail smoker and indulge in this heavenly concoction. Serve it immediately, sit back, and savor every sip of this smoky, aromatic old-fashioned.
Expert Tips
- Add a few drops of liquid smoke for an extra smokey flavor.
- Swap out the sugar cube for pure maple syrup for a flavorful twist.
- Use cherry wood chips for a sweet depth of flavor.
- Add a dash of orange bitters for an extra citrusy flavor.
- Instead of using a bunch of ice cubes, use a large ice cube to keep your drink cold without watering it down. Plus, it just looks cool, to be honest.
- When filling the smoker with chips, don’t be tempted to fill it completely. On testing, we found that using fewer wood chips was easier to light and produced a better smoke effect.
- When you light the smoker with the chef’s torch, hold the torch so that the flame is directly on top of the wood chips and not at an angle.
- If the top of the smoker becomes blackened from the chef’s torch this can be easily removed by soaking in bicarbonate of soda.
- Feel free to add a splash of water/carbonated water to your old fashioned if you don’t enjoy the whiskey neat.
- Although it is traditional to use a sugar cube, it can be substituted with 1/4 ounce of simple syrup or 1 tsp granulated sugar.
What to Serve With this Signature Cocktail
Because bourbon has a slightly spicy flavor to it, it pairs really well with Grilled Pork Tenderloin and Bacon Chicken Bites. Or, if you want to serve your cocktails with dessert, pair it with this decadent Butter Pecan Praline Tart.
Recipe FAQs
Definitely! There’s a world of possibilities to explore when it comes to the wood chips for your Smoked Old Fashioned. You can try out different types like cherry wood, applewood, or even mesquite, each offering its own unique flavor profiles.
Absolutely! If you’re looking for a non-alcoholic twist on the Smoked Old Fashioned, there are options for you. Instead of bourbon or whiskey, you can use non-alcoholic whiskey alternatives or flavored syrups that capture the essence of the drink.
If you don’t have a cocktail smoker or chef’s torch, simply place your wood chips on a fireproof surface, light them with a lighter, and place the whiskey glass top! No special equipment is needed!
You can find the cocktail smoker kit on Amazon here. It contains the smoker, wood chips, and chef’s torch.
More Cocktail Recipes to Try
Your next party won’t be complete until you try this dreamy cocktail. No need for a cocktail bar when you can make this drink in the comforts of your own home! Whether enjoying this drink with good company or cozying up on your couch after an exhausting day, this modern spin on a classic cocktail will sing its sweet notes of smoky flavor in your ear all night long. Also, please rate the recipe card and leave a comment below to help out the next reader!
Smoked Old Fashioned Cocktail
Equipment
- A cocktail smoker
- 2 tsps wood chips
- Chef’s torch
Ingredients
- 1 sugar cube for substitutions see notes
- Thumb sized piece of orange peel
- 4 drops angosturas bitters
- Ice
- 2 ounces bourbon whiskey
- 1 cocktail cherry
Instructions
Prep the cocktail
- Add the sugar cube and orange rind to a glass or small bowl.
- Put the cocktail smoker over the top and add 1 tsp wood chips.
- Use a chef’s torch to light the wood chips. Leave the smoke to infuse the sugar and orange for 2 minutes.
- Transfer the infused sugar cube to a rocks glass. Saturate the sugar cube with the angostura bitters.
- Muddle the sugar cube.
- Half fill the glass with ice and pour in the whiskey.
- Add the smoked orange peel and cherry to the glass.
Smoke the Cocktail & Serve
- Put the cocktail smoker over the top of the glass and fill it with 1 tsp wood chips.
- Use the chef’s torch to light the wood chips.
- Leave the smoke to infuse the cocktail for 1 minute then remove the smoker.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- You can find the cocktail smoker kit on Amazon here. It contains the smoker, wood chips and chef’s torch.
- When filling the smoker with chips, don’t be tempted to fill it completely. On testing, we found that using fewer wood chips was easier to light and produced a better smoke effect.
- When you light the smoker with the chef’s torch, hold the torch so that the flame is directly on top of the wood chips and not at an angle.
- If the top of the smoker becomes blackened from the chef’s torch this can be easily removed by soaking in bicarbonate of soda.
- Feel free to add a splash of water/carbonated water to your old fashioned if you don’t enjoy the whiskey neat.
- Although it is traditional to use a sugar cube, it can be substituted with 1/4 ounce of simple syrup or 1 tsp granulated sugar.
