A smoked Old Fashioned is a classic Old Fashioned with a short burst of wood smoke trapped over the glass. The smoke adds aroma, the same way an orange peel does, and once the drink is made it takes well under a minute. Here is the exact recipe, how to smoke it, which wood to use, and the mistakes that make it taste like an ashtray.
The short answer
Stir 2 oz of bourbon or rye, 1/4 oz of simple syrup and 2 dashes of Angostura bitters with ice for 20 to 30 seconds. Strain it over one large clear ice cube, squeeze an orange peel over the top, then smoke the drink with oak or cherry wood chips for 10 to 30 seconds and serve it straight away.
Smoked Old Fashioned recipe
Makes: 1 drink. Prep: 4 minutes. Smoke: 1 minute, including lighting the chips. Total: 5 minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 oz (60 ml) bourbon or rye whiskey
- 1/4 oz (7.5 ml) simple syrup, or 1 sugar cube
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 strip of orange peel
- 1 large clear ice cube, about 2 inches (5 cm)
- A small pinch of oak or cherry wood chips
Equipment
- A cocktail smoker and a torch
- A mixing glass, or any sturdy glass, with a long spoon
- A rocks glass, also called an Old Fashioned glass
Method
- Put the large clear ice cube in the rocks glass and let it sit while you mix, so it does not crack when the cold drink hits it.
- Add the whiskey, simple syrup and bitters to a mixing glass with a handful of regular ice. Stir for 20 to 30 seconds, until the outside of the glass feels cold.
- Strain the drink over the large cube.
- Squeeze the orange peel over the glass, skin side down, so its oils spray across the surface, then drop it in.
- Set the cocktail smoker on the glass, put a small pinch of wood chips on the mesh and light them with the torch until they smolder.
- Close or cover the smoker and let the smoke sit over the drink for 10 to 30 seconds.
- Lift the smoker off and serve right away, while the smoke is still on the glass.
Using a sugar cube instead of syrup? Put it in the mixing glass first with the bitters and a small splash of water, and crush it until it dissolves before you add the whiskey.
Which wood chips to use
- Oak: the barrel note whiskey already has. The safest match for an Old Fashioned.
- Cherry: mild and slightly sweet. A classic with bourbon.
- Apple: light and fruity. Good if you are new to smoked drinks.
- Peach and pear: soft and fruity, for a gentler smoke.
- Walnut: stronger and nutty. Use less, or smoke for less time.
- Hickory: strong and bold. Start with a very small pinch.
Smoke the glass or the drink?
Both work. Smoking the finished drink, as in the recipe above, gives the strongest aroma. For a lighter touch, smoke the empty glass upside down on the smoker for about 10 seconds, then turn it over and build the drink in it. The smoke clings to the glass and you smell it with every sip.
Bourbon or rye?
Bourbon gives a sweeter, rounder Old Fashioned, and it pairs well with cherry and apple smoke. Rye gives a drier, spicier one, and it suits oak. Both are classic. Use a whiskey you would happily drink neat, because the recipe hides very little.
Why one big clear ice cube
One large cube has less surface than a glass of small cubes, so it melts more slowly and the drink stays cold without getting watered down. Clear ice also has no cloudy center, so the drink looks the way it does in a good bar. You can make clear cubes at home with an insulated mold. See how to make clear ice at home.
Mistakes that ruin a smoked Old Fashioned
- Too many chips. A small pinch is enough. More chips burn hot and make the smoke bitter.
- Smoking too long. Past about 30 seconds most drinks start to taste ashy. Start short and go longer next time if you want more.
- Burning the chips. Light them until they smolder, then stop. Flames give a burnt taste.
- Letting it sit. The smoke fades in a minute or two, so smoke the drink last and serve it straight away.
- Shaking it. An Old Fashioned is stirred. Shaking clouds it and waters it down.
- Ice straight from the freezer. A very cold cube can crack when the drink hits it. Let it sit for a few minutes first.
A version without alcohol
Swap the whiskey for 2 oz of a non alcoholic whiskey alternative or strong cold brew coffee, and keep the syrup, orange peel and smoke. Angostura bitters contain alcohol, so leave them out if the drink needs to be fully alcohol free.
Questions
How long do you smoke an Old Fashioned?
10 to 30 seconds. About 10 seconds gives a light hint of smoke and about 30 seconds gives a clear smoky aroma.
What is the best wood for a smoked Old Fashioned?
Oak or cherry. Oak echoes the barrel the whiskey was aged in, and cherry adds a mild sweetness that suits bourbon.
Can you make a smoked Old Fashioned without a smoker?
Yes. Light a small pinch of wood chips on a heat safe board until they smolder, then turn the empty glass upside down over them for 10 to 20 seconds and build the drink in it. A cocktail smoker is simply easier to control and keeps the chips out of the drink.
Does smoke make the drink stronger?
No. Smoke adds aroma, not alcohol. The drink is exactly as strong as the whiskey you pour.
What glass do you use for an Old Fashioned?
A rocks glass, also called an Old Fashioned glass: short, wide and heavy, with room for one large cube.
What we use
We make this with our Cocktail Smoker Kit, which has a wooden barrel smoker top, a refillable torch, six wood chip flavors including oak and cherry, two whiskey glasses and two ice ball molds. For the cube, our Clear Ice Maker makes 8 clear 2 inch cubes per batch.
