Here’s Why You Should Smoke Your Cocktails
If you love making cocktails and experimenting with new recipes and techniques, you should definitely try smoking a cocktail. This technique adds to state the obvious, a smoky flavour. Mastering this could pretty much get you on your friends’ good side, and of course, take your mixology skills to the next level. Also, it has a showmanship aspect which you can proudly display when you are entertaining guests!
Smoking a cocktail uplifts the drink in many ways. It brings out the subtle notes and maximizes the flavour. It also engages other aspects of the drinker’s experience: the smell, the appearance, in addition to the taste and mouthfeel.
Spirits You Can Smoke
For Beginners
Choose spirits that will do most of the work for you! Bourbon and rum work best as the base for a smoked cocktail. You can also go for aged rum, whisky, and tequilas that are aged in wood barrels. These spirits work as they are barrel-aged and have a woodiness and charred flavour as well as natural sweetness that complements the effect of smoking the cocktail.
For Advanced Learners
Those who feel confident can start with Scotch, mezcal, and amaretto. Smoking cocktails made with these spirits gives them a nuanced flavour which are delicious to taste.
Five Methods Of Smoking A Cocktail At Home
The methods are presented in the ascending order of the smoky flavour they add to the drink. Remember that the ingredients you choose to burn for the smoke will have different notes. So select ingredients that go well with your cocktail.
Ingredients You Can Choose For Burning
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Wood chips/shavings
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Whole spices - cinnamon sticks, star anise, dried fruits, cloves
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Nuts
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Teas
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Tobacco
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Woody herbs such as rosemary, thyme and lavender
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Any ingredient whose smoky flavour you wish to add
Ensure all the ingredients are food-grade, unadulterated and untreated.
1. Smoking The Garnish
This is the simplest way to add smoky flavour to your cocktail. First, prepare your cocktail and pour into the serving glass. Next, light the garnish on fire until it starts to smoke a little. Put off the fire and set the garnish on the rim of the glass. Your guests may choose to sip the drink with the garnish or allow it to mix with the drink or can leave it on the glass and let just the aroma of the smoked garnish do its work.
2. Smoke-Rinsing The Drink
You will need a smoking kit for this method. A smoking kit has a whisky barrel smoking board, flavoured wood chips, a torch, and mixing glass. Take the smoking board, place your ingredients on it and light a fire on them. For the best effect, heat it until it turns yellow and starts to flame. Place a wide-mouthed container or a jar on it. In the meantime, chill or prepare your cocktail glass and set it aside. Make your cocktail using the mixing glass or a shaker. Now, gently remove the container/jar and fill it with your cocktail. Seal the container/jar and agitate/gently swirl it for 30 seconds. Pour the cocktail in the glass for serving.
3. Using A Smoking Gun
You will need a cocktail smoker kit for this technique. A cocktail smoker kit consists of a smoking gun, flavoured wood chips, a dome lid, and lithium-ion battery. First, prepare the cocktail and pour it into the serving glass. Keep the glass under the dome lid. Attach the smoke gun to the hole in the dome lid. Fill the container on top of the gun with your ingredients and burn them. The smoke will enter the dome lid and your serving glass. Allow the smoke to sit with the cocktail for a minute or two. This technique will cause the smoke to attach itself more to the outer side of the glass.
4. Using A Cocktail Smoker
Prepare the cocktail glass. Make your cocktail and pour it into the glass. Place the cocktail smoker on top of the glass and fill its bowl with ingredients you would like to add. Set them on fire and wait until smoke starts emanating. Cover the smoker with its top and let it rest for a minute or two. Remove the cocktail smoker apparatus from the cocktail glass. Your drink is ready to be served.
5. Smoking The Cocktail Glass
Prepare your cocktail in a separate glass or container. Set fire to your ingredients and when they begin to let out smoke, cover them with the cocktail glass. Let the smoke coat the inside of the glass and wait for it to cool. This adds fragrance to the glass. Now turn over the glass and pour the cocktail in it. Your smoked cocktail is ready for serving.
If you don't want to use fire in your home kitchen for making cocktails, you can use ingredients that have smoky or charred flavours. Peated whisky, mezcal, smoked bitters, smoked sugar or smoked salt are some of the items you can use to get smoky flavour.
