Smoked Old Fashioned Recipe

Chill glass

Place an Old Fashioned / rocks glass in the freezer or fill with ice water to chill while you prepare the cocktail (5 minutes).

If you use an ice sphere, ensure it is clear and frozen solid; otherwise have two large ice cubes ready.

Add the bourbon barrel–aged maple syrup (0.25 oz) into a mixing glass or small shaker.

Add 3 dashes of Angostura bitters to the syrup.

Toss in two Toschi cherries and muddle lightly — just enough to release some cherry juice and aroma, but not pulverize them. This adds fruit complexity while keeping the drink smooth.

Pour in 2 oz Buffalo Trace bourbon on top of the muddled cherries, syrup, and bitters.

Add a generous amount of ice to the mixing glass and stir gently for 20–30 seconds until well chilled and slightly diluted (target about 15–20% dilution).

While the cocktail is chilling, prepare your smoking setup: place 1 tablespoon of wood chips in a metal or heatproof smoking bowl or on a piece of foil. Light the chips with a torch or lighter until they begin to smolder and produce smoke.

Invert the chilled rocks glass over the smoking chips or funnel the smoke into the glass using a simple smoker or a glass dome. Let the glass fill with smoke for 10–20 seconds, then quickly invert the glass upright to trap the smoke inside and set aside.

Strain the stirred cocktail into the smoked rocks glass over the large ice sphere or two large ice cubes. The trapped smoke will lift as you pour, giving an aromatic hit.

Express the orange peel over the drink by holding it skin-side down above the cocktail and giving it a sharp twist to release oils. Run the peel around the glass rim and drop it in.

Garnish with one Toschi cherry on a pick. If you like a slightly sweeter finish, add up to 0.25 oz of cherry syrup from the jar over the ice.

Serve immediately. Encourage the drinker to take a short sniff before sipping to enjoy the smoked aroma combined with the maple and cherry notes.