Smoked Old Fashioned

A smoked old fashioned is the best way to elevate your cocktail game! It’s as easy as using an old fashioned smoker top to add some extra smoke flavor. This recipe has recommendations on the best bourbon and the best cocktail smokers available.

classic old fashioned in a glass with smoke garnished with orange and cherry

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If you want to create a magical cocktail experience, a smoked old fashioned is the way to go! The simple additional of a cocktail smoker can take a traditional drink into a spectacular visual show stopper.

Not to mention, if you love a smokey flavor, this takes the flavor of your cocktail to the next level. Speaking of next level cocktails, be sure to check out this Cherry Manhattan with Bourbon Cherries and this Aperol Negroni!

There are a few different types of cocktail smokers such as an old fashioned smoker top, a cocktail smoking gun and a cocktail smoker that uses a tube and a disk that sets on top of the drink.

Any of these options work for a smokey old fashioned and I will go through some of my favorites. You can also check out the Best Bourbon for Old Fashioned article for some super delicious bourbon ideas.

This smoked old fashioned cocktail recipe also includes many different variations of an old fashioned (including a smoked maple old fashioned) so if you want to play around with some different flavors and bitters, the sky is the limit!

Why this recipe works

The smoked old fashioned is a visually exciting show stopper for any party or get-together.
The extra flavor from the cocktail smoker makes this smokey old fashioned super indulgent.
You can create many different flavor variations using different bitters and mixers.

Ingredients

Bourbon or Rye: A few good options include Whistlepig (Rye, Bourbon or Whiskey variations), Knob Creek 9 Year Bourbon-Whiskey and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

Angostura Bitters: Scrappy’s Bitters and Hella Cocktail Co are great options.

Sugar: You can use granulated white sugar. You can also use simple syrup in place of the water sugar combination. If you want to create a rich brown sugar undertone, you can make this delicious Demerara Syrup.

Water

Orange Peel (Garnish): Orange peel or delicious Bourbon Cherries.

Ice: You can use ice cubes or a large ice block (these sphere and square ice molds are great). The large ice block will melt more slowly.

How to make a smoked old fashioned

Add water, bitters and sugar to rocks glass. Stir to dissolve sugar.

Add bourbon or rye.

Add ice or drink straight (no ice).

Using a Cocktail smoker (an old fashioned smoker top such as Foghat), a smoking gun or smoking tube), fill and cover glass with smoke. Allow smoke to remain in covered glass for 1-2 minutes (depending on desired smokiness). All smoke to release and enjoy.

Best bourbon for old fashioned

Some of our family favorites include Whistlepig (Rye, Bourbon or Whiskey variations), 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.

Best cocktail smokers

There are two main types of cocktail smokers to make a smoked old fashioned that I prefer.

One is a lid that you can set on top of the drink and light. Foghat Cocktail Smoker is an example of the “lid” you can set on top. This tends to be one of the easiest versions to use as you don’t have to hold the lid in place while it is smoking.

The second is a smoking gun and a disk with a tube attached that you can set on top. While still user friendly, you have to hold the disk in place which is less convenient than the first method.

Best bitters for old fashioned

Looking for the best bitters for an old fashioned cocktail was a tough one and there are some that are still up for debate. But luckily, we’ve found three of the best bitters for you to choose from.

Scrappy’s Bitters: Scrappy’s Bitters aim to provide the highest quality bitters without sacrificing quality for quantity. Every batch is organic and carefully made by hand—no artificial flavorings, chemicals, or dyes are added.

Hella Cocktail Co: Hella Cocktail Co bitters are made with pure cane sugar, natural extracts, fruit juice concentrates, peels, spices, and bitter root. They never use preservatives, artificial flavorings, or high-fructose corn syrup and each of their products are being sold only at an affordable price.

FAQ and expert tips

How do you infuse smoke into bourbon?

Using a cocktail smoker or smoke top, you can add smoke to a bourbon filled glass and cover for 1-2 minutes.

What kind of wood do you use to smoke an old fashioned?

You can use any kind of wood flavor to smoke a cocktail. Some popular flavors include hickory, oak, cherry or alderwood.

What does flaming an orange peel do?

Flaming an orange feel can add a burnt and smokey element to your cocktails. It can also help release some of the natural oils in the orange.

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Smoked Old Fashioned

A smoked old fashioned is the best way to elevate your cocktail game! It's as easy as using an old fashioned smoker top to add some extra smoke flavor. This recipe has recommendations on the best bourbon for old fashioned and the best cocktail smokers available. Print Pin Course: cocktail, DrinksCuisine: American Prep Time: 2 minutesTotal Time: 2 minutes Servings: 1 serving Calories: 148kcal Author: Aubrey Cost: $4

Equipment

1 Cocktail smoker

Ingredients

2 oz bourbon or rye
2-3 dash angostura bitters
½ teaspoon sugar
½ teaspoon water
1 orange peel (garnish)

Instructions

Add water, bitters and sugar to rocks glass. Stir to dissolve sugar.
Add bourbon or rye.
Add ice or drink straight (no ice).
Using a Cocktail smoker (an old fashioned smoker top such as Foghat), a smoking gun or smoking tube), fill and cover glass with smoke. Allow smoke to remain in covered glass for 1-2 minutes (depending on desired smokiness). All smoke to release and enjoy.

Notes

Best Bourbon for Old Fashioned Recommendations Ice: You can use ice cubes or a large ice block (sphere or square). The large ice block will melt more slowly. Cocktail Variations: Brandy: Use brandy instead of bourbon in your classic recipe. Christmas Old Fashioned: Use rosemary and cranberry to garnish. Add a splash of apple cider. Smoked Old Fashioned with Apple Cider: Add in a quarter cup of apple cider in your classic recipe. Gin: Replace bourbon with gin. Smoked Old Fashioned with Chocolate: Use chocolate bitters instead of orange bitters in your classic recipe. Buffalo Trace: Follow classic recipe using Buffalo Trace Bourbon. Bulleit: Follow classic recipe using Bulleit Bourbon. Gingerbread Old Fashioned: Instead of simple syrup (sugar and water), use gingerbread syrup in your classic recipe. About 1 teaspoon. Cranberry Old Fashioned: Use spiced cranberry syrup instead of simple syrup (water sugar). Smoked Old Fashioned with Cinnamon: Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon simple syrup to recipe in place of sugar and water. Crown Royal: Use the Crown Royal instead of your usual bourbon whiskey for this classic recipe. Blood Orange Old Fashioned: Do the classic recipe and add in ¼ cup of blood orange juice. Garnish with blood orange. Honey Old Fashioned: Replace the water and sugar with honey for this classic recipe. Blackberry Old Fashioned: Replace the water and sugar with blackberry syrup for this classic recipe. Garnish with skewered blackberries. Apple Old Fashioned: Use apple bitters instead of angostura and add ¼ cup apple cider. You can also use Stillhouse Apple Whiskey instead of bourbon. Smoked Old Fashioned with Cognac: Follow classic recipe using a Cognac. Fall Inspired: Replace the water and sugar with maple syrup for this classic recipe. Add 1.4 cup apple cider and garnish with cinnamon sticks. Brown Sugar Old Fashioned: Replace white sugar with brown sugar in classic recipe. Espresso Old Fashioned: Add 1 shot espresso. Bacon Old Fashioned: Add small bacon pieces in a cocktail shaker along with the usual ingredients, shake well and strain into a rocks glass before adding in bourbon. Blueberry Old Fashioned: Replace the water and sugar with blueberry syrup for this classic recipe. Garnish with skewered blueberries. Fig Old Fashioned: Replace simple syrup (water/sugar) with caramelized fig syrup. Smoked Old Fashioned with Elderflower: Add ½ oz of St. Germain to classic recipe. Smoked Old Fashioned with Fireball: Follow classic recipe using Fireball Whiskey. Banana Old Fashioned: Replace the water and sugar with banana syrup for this classic recipe. Garnish with banana slice. Grapefruit Old Fashioned: Use grapefruit bitters and/or add ¼ cup grapefruit juice. Blanton’s: Use Blanton’s Bourbon in your old fashioned recipe. Gentleman Jack: Use Gentleman Jack Bourbon, a premium version of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey in your classic old fashioned recipe.