Smoking cocktails inspired by TikTok you can make at home

Long gone are the days of smoked drinks only being served in cocktail bars by mixologists.

TikTok’s latest craze cocktail trend has accumulated over 2 million views, and Google searches for cocktail smokers are now up 68x in 3 months, as DIY bartenders are keen to create the magic of a smoked aperitif at home. 

Online drinks retailer The Bottle Club has revealed how to introduce that smoky flavour into every sip, and create an impressive display of billowing smoke in your glass:

What you’ll need

To begin creating any smoked cocktail, you’ll first need to invest in a cocktail smoker. The smoker works by burning flavoured and scented wood chips and releasing smoke into either the whole cocktail, some of its ingredients, or the glass. This not only infuses your drink with flavour but also creates an impressive smoke display.  

The prices of smoking kits or smoking guns vary depending on how advanced they are, but if you’re a beginner starting out we recommend The Breville Smoking Gun for £59.99 or you can invest in the Smoke Boards Kit that includes a variety of flavoured wood chips as well for £103.16.

The Smoking Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned is a timeless drink that always hits the spot and whilst we’re not one to mess with tradition, the flavours and ingredients of this classic cocktail are even more amplified when infused with smoke.  

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• A splash of water
• 60ml Scotch whisky or bourbon
• Orange peel (for garnish)
• Maraschino cherry (for garnish)
• Clear ice cubes

Equipment:

• A smoking gun or kit
• Rocks glass/tumbler

Method:

• Smoke your garnishes – This is essential as the smoky flavour will infuse into these elements better than the liquid, so smoke the sugar, cherry and orange peel first. 
• Smoke the glass – Next, use your smoker to add some smoke to the glass before covering with a larger glass container to retain the smoke. 
• Mix your cocktail – Muddle the water and sugar together in your glass, then add the bourbon, ice cubes and drop in your smoked garnishes.
• Smoke for appearance – Give your drink an extra smoke for a couple minutes to add a touch more smoky flavour and create a great visual appearance for serving.

The Smoking Manhattan

This cocktail recipe brings a touch of magic to the already much-loved Manhattan cocktail, by presenting it with a smoky flare. Infusing oakwood smoke into your cocktail will complement the whisky-based drink and introduce a new depth to it.

Ingredients:

• 50ml rye whiskey
• 25ml rosso vermouth
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Maraschino cherry (for garnish)
• Twisted lemon peel (for garnish)
• Ice

Equipment:

• A smoking gun or kit
• Martini glass

Method:

• Smoke your garnishes – Begin by smoking your maraschino cherry and lemon peel to add that extra smokiness to your drink. 
• Mix your cocktail – Pour the rye, sweet vermouth, and bitters into a cocktail shaker with ice and stir. 
• Pour cocktail and smoke – Finally, strain the cocktail into a martini glass to prevent the ice going into the glass and garnish with your twisted lemon peel and cherry. Use your smoking gun to add extra smoke for presentation if required.

The Smoking Negroni

This Italian classic cocktail needs no introduction, it’s the perfect summertime aperitif and what better way to serve it up than with a touch of smoky theatrics? The smoke also adds an extra element of flavour to the cocktail’s mix of sweetness and bitterness.

Ingredients:

• 25ml gin
• 25ml sweet vermouth
• 25ml Campari
• Dehydrated orange slice (for garnish)
• Round ice cube 

Equipment:

• A smoking gun or kit
• Tumbler/rocks glass

Method:

• Smoke your garnishes – Start by smoking your dehydrated orange slice to infuse it with the smoky flavour you desire.
• Mix your cocktail – Add the gin, vermouth and Campari into a mixing glass and stir together well. 
• Pour cocktail and smoke – Pour your mix into a tumbler glass and add a large rounded ice cube and your smoked orange. Using your smoker, smoke the whole drink for a minute before presenting. 

The Smokey Cosmopolitan

If you’re looking for a cocktail to serve up to the Sex and the City fan in your life, it doesn’t get much better than a Cosmopolitan – especially one with a smoky twist. The smoke infused drink not only gives it the presentation it’s worthy of, but adds a subtle new taste that will be welcomed by cosmo lovers.

Ingredients:

• 45ml lemon vodka
• 15ml triple sec
• 30ml cranberry juice
• 10ml lime juice
• Orange peel or a lime wedge (for garnish)
• Ice cubes

Equipment:

• A smoking gun or kit
• Cocktail glass

Method:

• Mix your cocktail – Add your lemon vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice and lime juice into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. 
• Smoke the glass – Using your smoking gun fill the glass with smoke and cover with a coaster to keep the smoke in. 
• Pour cocktail – Pour the cocktail into the glass, add your garnish to the side and serve instantly whilst still smoking.