Smoked Old Fashioned Recipe

Chill glass

Place the Old Fashioned (rocks) glass in the freezer or fill with ice water to chill while you prepare the drink. This helps keep the cocktail cold once served.

Combine base ingredients

In a mixing glass, add 2 oz bourbon, 0.25 oz simple syrup, and 2 dashes Angostura bitters.

Add ice and stir

Fill the mixing glass with plenty of ice. Stir gently with a bar spoon for 20–30 seconds (about 20–30 full rotations) until the mixture is well chilled and slightly diluted.

Prepare garnish

While stirring, use a vegetable peeler or sharp knife to remove a large strip of orange peel (about 1-inch wide). Rub the peel over the rim of the chilled glass to express oils, then set the peel aside for final garnish. Keep the cherry ready.

Strain over ice

Discard the chilling ice or water from your Old Fashioned glass. Place one large ice cube in the glass and strain the stirred cocktail over the cube using a hawthorne or julep strainer.

Add garnish

Twist the orange peel over the drink to release essential oils, then drop the peel into the glass. Add the maraschino/Luxardo cherry on top or skewer it and rest it on the ice.

Set up smoker

If using a smoking gun: place a small pinch (about 1 tablespoon) of wood chips (apple, cherry, or oak) into the smoking gun's chamber. Position the gun's hose into a cloche, inverted mixing tin, or directly over the glass if using a heatproof dome. If you do not have a smoking gun, a charred cinnamon stick or briefly flaming rosemary sprig can provide a touch of smoke—use caution.

Fill dome with smoke

Light the smoking gun and fill the cloche or dome with smoke, then place the dome over the prepared cocktail and base so smoke remains trapped. If using a hose inserted into the glass, briefly fill the glass with smoke then quickly cap with your dome or inverted tin.

Let smoke rest

Allow the smoke to infuse the cocktail for 10–20 seconds for a light aroma, or up to 30–45 seconds for a more pronounced smoke character. Keep the dome sealed during this time.

Serve

Remove the dome, briefly waft the smoke toward the guest's face for dramatic presentation if desired, then serve immediately. Optionally, express the orange peel again over the drink just before presenting for an extra burst of citrus aroma.

Alternative smoking method

If you used a charred cinnamon stick or flaming rosemary, carefully blow out the flame, place it briefly under the glass or over the cloche to let smoke collect, then cover the drink to trap smoke for 10–20 seconds before serving.