Ingredients
- 60 ml Bourbon (Buffalo Trace, Wild Turkey 101)
- 1 Sugar cube (or 5ml simple syrup)
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 Large ice cube
- 1 Orange peel
- 1 Hickory or applewood smoke chips pinch
Instructions
- Build a regular Old Fashioned: muddle sugar with bitters and a few drops of water in a rocks glass; add bourbon and stir; drop in one large ice cube.
- Express an orange peel over the surface and drop it in.
- Set up a smoking gun (or place the glass under a glass cloche). Add a pinch of hickory or applewood smoke chips to the gun.
- Smoke the drink for 15-20 seconds. The smoke should fill the glass headspace.
- Cover briefly with a coaster or pour-glass to trap the smoke. Let it sit 30 seconds. Lift the cover at the table for the visual.
- Serve immediately while smoke is still visible.
Notes
Where it came from
The Smoked Old Fashioned is a 2010s cocktail-bar invention that came out of the same wave that gave us bacon Old Fashioneds, fat-washed bourbons, and other look-at-me whiskey drinks. Smoking guns became cheap (you can buy a Polyscience Breville for $90), and bartenders started using them on classic drinks.
It became a fixture on bar menus because it photographs beautifully and tastes meaningfully different from a regular Old Fashioned. Smoke adds depth, complexity, and theatre. The drink got popular fast and stayed.
What it tastes like
Same as an Old Fashioned (bourbon-sugar-bitters-orange) but with an extra layer of campfire-smoke complexity. The smoke clings to the surface of the drink and to the inside of the glass, so every sip starts with a hit of hickory or applewood before the bourbon arrives.
It’s a distinctly more savoury Old Fashioned. Pairs better with steak, less well with dessert.
How to smoke without a gun
If you don’t have a smoking gun, char a cinnamon stick or a sprig of rosemary with a torch and rest it across the top of the glass while the drink sits. The smoke that releases is more aromatic than wood-chip smoke but creates similar effect.
Glass cloches help trap the smoke. Buy a $20 cocktail cloche and you can smoke any drink at the table — works on Manhattans, Boulevardiers, even Negronis.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
The bourbon
- Use
- High-rye bourbon (Bulleit, Four Roses Single Barrel) or Buffalo Trace
- Skip
- Wheated bourbons like Maker’s Mark (too soft for smoke)
- Why
- High-rye bourbon stands up to smoke. Wheated bourbons get overwhelmed.
The wood
- Use
- Hickory chips (most common) or applewood (sweeter)
- Try
- Cherry wood for fruit-forward smoke, mesquite for bigger BBQ flavour
- Why
- Different woods give different smoke profiles. Hickory is the steakhouse default.
The technique
- Use
- Smoking gun (Polyscience Breville, Smoking Gun Pro)
- Try
- Glass cloche + handheld torch + cinnamon stick
- Why
- Smoking guns are reliable; the cinnamon-torch trick is cheaper and just as cool.
Variations
Other bourbon-led classics worth pulling out the good ice for.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Char a cinnamon stick or rosemary sprig with a torch, rest it across the glass. Trap with a coaster for 30 seconds.
Rye whiskey works (drier, spicier). Scotch in a smoked Old Fashioned is delicious but technically a different drink (Penicillin).
Burnt orange peel under a glass for 30 seconds. Less smoke, more citrus oil.
A second rocks glass inverted on top traps the smoke fine. Or a saucer.
It’s just an Old Fashioned. Same recipe, no smoke step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is a Smoked Old Fashioned?
A Smoked Old Fashioned is a classic Old Fashioned (bourbon, sugar, bitters, orange peel) with smoke from hickory, applewood, or cherry wood chips trapped in the glass headspace. The smoke clings to the surface of the drink and adds a layer of campfire-smoke complexity to every sip.
How do you smoke an Old Fashioned?
Build a regular Old Fashioned. Set up a smoking gun with a pinch of hickory chips. Pump smoke into the glass for 15-20 seconds. Cover briefly with a coaster to trap the smoke; let it sit for 30 seconds. Serve immediately while still visibly smoky.
Can I smoke a cocktail without a smoking gun?
Yes. Char a cinnamon stick or rosemary sprig with a torch and rest it across the top of the glass for 30 seconds, trapping the smoke with a coaster. Same theatrical effect, more aromatic. Smoking guns just give you wood-chip smoke control.
What wood is best for smoking an Old Fashioned?
Hickory for the classic steakhouse character (most common). Applewood for sweeter, fruit-forward smoke. Cherry wood for cherry-vanilla notes. Mesquite is too aggressive for most palates.
Does the smoke change the flavour?
Yes. The smoke adds savoury, campfire, slightly bitter notes that complement the bourbon. Compared to a regular Old Fashioned the smoked version is more savoury, less sweet-feeling, and pairs better with steak than dessert.
Is the smoke unhealthy to drink?
The amount of smoke trapped in a 60ml drink is roughly the same as inhaling smoke from a fire briefly. Not significant. The drink itself is more of a concern than the smoke.
How strong is a Smoked Old Fashioned?
Around 30% ABV in the glass. Same as a regular Old Fashioned. The smoke doesn’t add or remove alcohol.
What food pairs with a Smoked Old Fashioned?
Steak, ribs, smoked brisket, BBQ. The smoke flavour echoes the food. Less successful with seafood or salads — the smoke fights delicate flavours.
Can I prep a Smoked Old Fashioned ahead?
The Old Fashioned itself batches fine in a bottle for a week. The smoke step has to happen at the table — smoke dissipates within minutes.
What glass should I use?
A standard rocks/Old Fashioned glass with a wide mouth. Wide mouth = more smoke contact with the surface of the drink. Avoid tall narrow glasses.
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