Walk The Line Recipe
A daring Old Fashioned with Buffalo Trace touch of whiskey smoke, bitters, garnished with an orange peel and cherry.
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Ingredients
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Cocktail
Smoke and Garnish
Tools
Method
Cocktail
Prepare glass
Place the Old Fashioned glass on a stable surface. Add the large ice cube to the glass and set aside to chill the glass slightly.
Mix ingredients
In the chilled glass (or a separate mixing glass if preferred), pour 2 oz Buffalo Trace bourbon, 0.25 oz demerara or simple syrup, 3 dashes Angostura bitters and 1 dash orange bitters (if using). Stir gently with a bar spoon for 20–30 seconds to properly chill and dilute the drink and to integrate the syrup and bitters.
Set ice
If you mixed in a separate mixing glass, strain the cocktail over the large ice cube in the Old Fashioned glass. If you mixed directly in the serving glass, leave as is.
Smoke and Garnish
Prepare orange peel
Use a peeler or small knife to cut a single large strip of orange peel (about 2–3 inches). Express the oils by holding the peel over the glass and giving it a firm squeeze so the oils spray onto the surface of the cocktail, then rub the peel around the rim and set aside for garnish.
Smoke the cocktail
Set the glass with the prepared cocktail on a stable heatproof surface. Place the smoking chip or small piece of wood in a heatproof spoon or metal surface and ignite it with a butane torch or lighter until it smolders and produces smoke. Immediately position the smoking cloche (or inverted metal tin/bowl) over the glass to capture the smoke. Allow the glass to sit under the cloche for 20–30 seconds for a subtle smoky infusion. If using a smoking gun, fill the cloche with smoke and seal for the same time. Remove the cloche, then quickly cover the glass with it again for transit if serving to a guest to keep smoke trapped until presentation (optional).
Finish and serve
Place the expressed orange peel on the rim or drop it into the drink and garnish with one Luxardo cherry on a pick. Present the cocktail immediately so the drinker experiences the smoky aroma. Advise the drinker to take an initial sniff before sipping to enjoy the smoke and citrus oils.
Cleanup and safety
Ensure that any smoldering wood is fully extinguished and cool before disposing. Use smoke in a well-ventilated area and exercise caution with open flame and torches.