Xr Smoked Old Fashioned Recipe

Combine and steep

In a small saucepan combine 1 cup simple syrup and 1/4 cup demerara sugar over low heat. Add dried orange peel, split vanilla bean (or vanilla extract), star anise and cinnamon stick. Warm gently while stirring until sugar fully dissolves and aromas develop, about 5 minutes. Do not boil.

Rest and strain

Remove from heat, cover, and let steep for 30 minutes to 1 hour to deepen flavor. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bottle. Refrigerate; keeps 2–3 weeks.

Place a large clear ice cube in an old fashioned glass.

Add 2 oz Cristiano XR Reposado, 0.5 oz Aurora Old Fashioned syrup and 2 dashes Angostura bitters into a mixing glass with a few small ice cubes.

Stir the mixture with a bar spoon for 20–30 seconds until well chilled and slightly diluted (target about 15–20% dilution for balance).

Strain the stirred cocktail over the large ice cube in the old fashioned glass.

Prepare the orange peel: cut a 2.5–3 inch wide strip of orange zest, removing as much pith as possible. Hold the peel skin-side toward the drink, briefly heat the peel edge with a lighter or match for 1–2 seconds to warm the oils, then quickly squeeze/twist the peel over the drink to express the oils, running the peel around the rim.

Optional — flame the peel: hold the peel 3–4 inches above the drink with a lit match or lighter between the peel and the cocktail. Quickly squeeze the peel so a fine spray of orange oil passes through the flame, creating a brief flare that caramelizes the oils onto the drink. Drop the peel into the glass.

Place the smoked cocktail setup nearby: wood chips in the smoker chamber or on a heat-safe surface if using a torch. Ignite 1 tablespoon of wood chips until they begin to smolder and produce smoke (if using a smoking gun, load the chips and produce smoke per device instructions). Use caution with open flame.

Cover the glass with a small cloche or inverted mixing tin, or channel smoke into the glass using the smoking gun nozzle. Allow smoke to accumulate for 10–20 seconds for a subtle effect, up to 30–45 seconds for a stronger smoke note. Remove the cover to release smoke tableside, presenting the smoked aroma to the guest.

Serve immediately. Advise the guest to take a moment to inhale the smoked orange aroma before sipping.