Fall Cocktail : Smoked Old Fashioned
We haven’t really enjoyed restaurants or fancy cocktail bars since March, so these days we try to find fun and flavor in things we whip up at home. It has honestly been a good opportunity and incentive to better our culinary and cocktail-making skills. At the beginning of quarantine, we purchased a food & drinker smoking gun, and now that fall is officially here, it has felt super appropriate to smoke all the delicious things. I know it’s only Tuesday, but we have family in town and have been in celebratory mode over here, enjoying each other’s company. I’ll admit- that hasn’t left me with much time for the blog, but we have been eating amazing food and having festive drinks (which I felt compelled to share today). We made these over the weekend and I figured it was time to photograph one of our favorites because it’s the perfect drink for fall… the smoked old fashioned. Click through for the recipe! We’ve been smoke infusing everything lately.Â
I know Halloween will look different for many this year- with fewer parties and events, but if you still want the upcoming spooky holiday to feel festive, this fun and classic cocktail is one to save and try at home! The swirling smoke is mesmerizing and it tastes like the fall season… whiskey, citrus, hickory smoke, and bitters that cut the palette, but with a hint of sweetness from the orange, sugar cube, and a very fancy maraschino cherry. It’s mine and Emmett’s favorite- especially this time of year! It feels like a special treat.
Smoked Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- 2 dashes angostura bitters
- 1 sugar cube
- 2 orange slices
- 1 maraschino cherry
- 1 large ice cube
Instructions
- In the bottom of a cocktail shaker, carefully muddle the sugar, bitters, and one orange slice. Remove the orange rind once muddled.
- Next, add the bourbon and ice into the cocktail shaker.
- Using the smoker gun, pump smoke into the cocktail shaker for 15 seconds, before capping it off with the shaker lid. Allow it to rest for a minute.
- Shake the cocktail until the shaker is cold and frosty on the exterior.
- Pour into an old fashioned cocktail glass and garnish with the remaining orange slice and a maraschino cherry. Enjoy!
The food smoking gun is such a cool kitchen gadget. Back in January, Emmett and I were going to a movie and we always like to grab an appetizer and a cocktail before the show starts. We both ordered our favorite smoked old fashioned and asked the bartender if she could share how to create this cool cocktail. Luckily, she was not only nice enough to share the recipe with us, but she also kindly sent me a link for the exact smoking gun they used at the restaurant… which happened to be Breville brand. I ordered it from Crate & Barrel that night, and we’ve been smoke infusing food & drinks at home, ever since.
The smoker gun came with a bunch of good recipes, and a few different smoke flavors to test- like applewood and hickory. You can switch the tiny smoking chips to your preferred flavor. I like applewood and Emmett prefers hickory- go figure.
You pump the smoke into the cocktail shaker, and enclose it with the lid. We allow it to rest for a minute, shake things up really well, and pour it into a prepared old fashioned glass. It’s really an entertaining and impressive cocktail to make, despite the fact that it is easy to throw together!
We’ve been learning to appreciate the little things this year- seasonal flavors, being home, time with loved ones, and making the most of simple moments. I so enjoy the time we share in our kitchen together!
Do you have any favorite fall food or cocktails that put a smile on your face this time of year? It’s fun to keep the tradition of making our favorites at certain times of the year! I hope you’re all having a good week so far. We’ve been spending a lot of time outside with our family. It has been nice to appreciate the season and soak up the incredible, crisp mountain air.
