Smoked Old Fashioned Recipe

Prepare glass

Place a large clean ice cube or sphere into the Old Fashioned glass. Set aside.

Build in mixing glass

Add 2 oz Maker's Mark, 0.25 oz demerara syrup, and 3 dashes Angostura bitters to a mixing glass. Fill the mixing glass with ice.

Stir

Stir the mixture for 20–30 seconds (about 15–20 full turns) until well-chilled and properly diluted (glass should feel very cold).

Strain

Using a hawthorne or julep strainer, strain the chilled cocktail over the prepared large ice cube in the Old Fashioned glass.

Add cherry

Gently place one Luxardo (or maraschino) cherry beside the ice in the glass.

Express orange oils

Cut a wide strip of orange peel (about 1.5 x 3 inches). Hold the peel with the outside facing down over the cocktail, and quickly squeeze and twist it to express the oils over the surface, moving it across the drink to release fragrant oils.

Optional: Smoke the cocktail

If using a smoking gun: place a small metal or heatproof cover (or inverted mixing glass) over the cocktail. Pack the smoking gun chamber with about 0.25 oz wood chips (apple, cherry, or oak), ignite, and fill the cover with smoke. Let the cocktail sit under the cover for 20–30 seconds to absorb smoke, then remove the cover. If using a torch and wood chips: place chips on a heatproof surface, carefully torch until they smolder and capture smoke under the inverted glass to trap it; alternatively, briefly pass the torch to warm the peel as you express oils to slightly caramelize them. Strain any ash away from the drink if present.

Finish and serve

After smoking, give the drink a short sniff, then garnish by laying the twisted orange peel on the rim or over the cherry. Serve immediately.

If you used a smoking gun or torch, ensure all embers are fully extinguished and equipment cooled before storing. Adjust demerara syrup to taste: increase to 0.5 oz for a sweeter Old Fashioned or reduce to 0.15 oz for drier preference.