Crafting Smoked Cocktails At Home - A Brief Guide
Looking to add some whimsical touch to your cocktail recipes? Have you tried crafting smoked cocktails yet? With their enticing aromas and captivating flavours, smoked cocktails are great drinks to sip while unwinding after a long day or serve at spirited house parties. If you think crafting smoked cocktails at home is a challenging task, then think again. Mixing up a cocktail recipe and infusing it with smoke is a fairly simple process. As long as you do it safely, you can craft unforgettable drinks from the comfort of your home! To know all about it, keep reading.
Home Bartender’s Guide To Smoked Cocktails
What is a smoked cocktail?
A smoked cocktail is a technique that infuses the drink with smoke to enhance its overall flavour. It also gives the cocktail an aromatic touch that simply thrills the senses. The process is simple and even home bartenders can craft exciting smoked cocktails at home. The cocktail is exposed to smoke through various tools such as a smoking gun, burning wood chips etc. It will not only add an intriguing depth and complexity to the drink, but it also is a rewarding experience. Many mixologists, cocktail enthusiasts and home bartenders have been concocting smoked cocktails at home and pushing the boundaries of craftsmanship.
Tools to craft smoked cocktails at home
If you are interested in smoked cocktail recipes, you may want to consider getting these tools. Some of the most popular options that are easily available in the market are:
1. Smoking Gun
It’s a small, handheld gun that comes with an in-built fan. It’s used to fill the glass with smoke. This is one of the easiest ways you can add wood-fired or smokey aroma to your cocktails.
2. Smoking Dome Cloche
It’s a smoke hood, shaped like a dome and is typically made of glass. It’s used to capture the smoke inside the glass to elevate the flavours of the drinks. Not just in cocktails, this can be used for various dishes as well such as charcuterie, cheeses, grilled veggies, etc.
3. Wood Chips
This is the widely used smoking ingredient. Comes with a variety of flavours. Based on your cocktail recipe, you can find the wood chips that complement the flavour profile of the spirits. This will impart a distinctive aroma and flair to your drinks.
4. Blow Torch or Kitchen Torch
This is used to light up wooden chips or other ingredients. As the ingredients burn with flame, it infuses the cocktails with aromatic flavours.
Tips to keep in mind while crafting a smoked cocktail at home
1. Choose the cocktail recipes carefully
Remember that not all cocktails are fit for smoked effect. Spirits like scotch whisky, single malts, bourbon, dark rum, spiced rum, etc. are best suited for these.
2. Use the right amount of smoke
Too much smoke can overpower the flavours. So, start with a minimal smoked effect and adjust it accordingly to suit the taste.
3. Experiment
Playing with the flavours is the best way to level up your home bartending skills. You can experiment with a variety of spirits, different flavours of wood chips, etc. Try experimenting to find your favourite smoked cocktail recipe! You may even craft your signature drink.
Safety precautions for home bartenders
Smoking cocktails may be a fun and exciting adventure for home bartenders. However, it’s important to be cautious while dealing with flames and smoke. Here are a few precautionary measures for you:
1. Use the right equipment
If you want to craft smoked cocktails at home, we recommend stocking up with essential tools and equipment such as a smoking gun, kitchen torch, smoking cloche etc. It’s important to use the right tools and also how to use them safely.
2. Work in a well-ventilated area
To be safe from any unintentional hazards, be in a well-ventilated area while crafting smoked cocktail recipes. Open doors and windows to allow fresh air to circulate. Do not inhale smoke in large quantities.
3. Be mindful
Smoked cocktails involve working with flames. So have all the precautionary measures for fire hazards in place. Keep flammable materials like cloth, paper etc., away. Always wipe off the surface for any alcoholic spills before using fire or smoke. Never leave your smoking equipment unattended while it’s in use.
Now that you are equipped with all the knowledge to craft smoked cocktails at home, here’s a simple and easy cocktail recipe for you.
Smoked Old-Fashioned Cocktail Recipe
Give your classic old-fashioned cocktail recipe a smouldering twist! This thrilling cocktail is packed with the intricate flavours of Talisker Single Malt Scotch whisky, bitters, and sugar. Infused with an enticing aroma of smoke, this scotch whisky cocktail is a must-try! Here’s the cocktail recipe for you:
Ingredients
- Talisker Single Malt Scotch Whisky - 60ml
- Angostura Bitters - 3 dashes
- Sugar - 1 teaspoon
- Water - 1 teaspoon
- Orange Peel - 1
- Ice
Method
- Grab a rocks glass and add sugar and water to it.
- Add 3 dashes of bitter to the glass and stir until the sugar fully dissolves.
- Next measure and pour Talisker Single Malt Scotch Whisky into the glass.
- Place a large ice cube in the glass.
- Using a smoking gun fill the glass with smoke.
- Cover it with a glass lid to capture the smoke within the glass.
- Let it sit for 1-2 minutes.
- Remove the cover and release the smoke.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
