Old Smoky Recipe
Applewood-smoked Reifel rye, Cinzano Rosso, vermouth, cherry, cocoa bitters • 2.5oz
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Ingredients
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Cocktail
Garnish & Finish
Smoking (if not using pre-smoked spirit)
Method
If you have pre-smoked Reifel rye (recommended)
- 1
Chill glass
Place a coupe or rocks glass in the freezer or fill it with ice water to chill while you prepare the cocktail.
- 2
Combine ingredients
In a mixing glass, add 2.0 oz applewood-smoked Reifel rye, 0.5 oz Cinzano Rosso, 0.25 oz cherry liqueur, 2 dashes cocoa bitters, and 1 dash aromatic bitters (if using).
- 3
Stir
Add plenty of ice to the mixing glass and stir gently for 20–30 seconds (about 15–20 full revolutions) until well chilled and properly diluted (roughly 20–25% dilution by weight from melted ice).
- 4
Strain
Discard ice or water from the chilled serving glass. Double-strain the mixture (or fine-strain if you prefer) into the chilled coupe or over a large clear ice cube in a rocks glass.
- 5
Garnish & finish
Express an orange peel over the drink to release the oils, rim the glass briefly with the peel, then drop it in (or discard). Skewer a Luxardo cherry and rest it on/into the drink. If you want a whisper of extra smoke, sprinkle a very small pinch (about 1/4 tsp) of smoked sea salt on the surface or rim an edge with it.
If you need to smoke the rye yourself (for stronger applewood character)
- 6
Prepare smoking setup
Place about 1 tablespoon of applewood chips on a heatproof surface or in a small smoker box. Light the chips with a torch or lighter until they begin to smolder and produce smoke. Have a large Mason jar or heatproof container ready.
- 7
Smoke the spirit
Pour 2–3 oz of Reifel rye into the Mason jar. Invert the jar over the smoldering chips or capture smoke inside the jar so the spirit is exposed to the smoke for 30–60 seconds. Seal the jar for 1–2 minutes to let the smoke infuse. Taste after 1 minute; you can repeat for more smoke but avoid overpowering the spirit.
- 8
Decant and cool
Carefully decant the smoked rye back into a clean container. Let it rest a few minutes to settle. Use the smoked spirit in the main cocktail recipe above (use 2.0 oz smoked rye).
Serve
- 9
Serve immediately once garnished. The cocktail should weigh in around 2.5 oz total liquid and present a balanced interplay of applewood smoke, spicy rye, sweet herbal vermouth, dark cherry, and a cocoa-bitter backdrop.