7 Best Smoked Bourbon Cocktail Drinks

Smoked cocktails have become increasingly popular in recent years, as bartenders and mixologists seek to create unique flavor profiles and elevate classic cocktails.

One of the most popular spirits for smoked cocktails is bourbon, which offers a rich and complex flavor that pairs perfectly with smoky notes. In this article, we will explore the 7 best smoked bourbon cocktails and what you will need to smoke a cocktail.

What You'll Need to Smoke a Cocktail

To smoke a cocktail, you will need a few essential tools. First, you will need a cocktail smoker which can be purchased at most kitchen supply stores or you can buy our best in class smoke lid. Next, you will need wood chips, which can be found at specialty stores or online.

Popular wood chips for smoking cocktails include applewood, hickory, and oak. The exact steps for the steps below may vary slightly based on the type of cocktail smoker you are using. For these recipes, we'll be using our cocktail smoke lid.

7 Best Smoked Bourbon Cocktails

1. Smoked Old Fashioned

Ingredients

• 2 oz. bourbon
• 1 sugar cube
• 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
• Orange peel
• Applewood chips

Directions

1. Place the sugar cube in the bottom of an Old Fashioned glass and add bitters.
2. Muddle the sugar and bitters until well combined.
3. Add ice and pour in the bourbon.
4. Smoke the cocktail with applewood chips with a smoke top lid for 1-2 minutes.
5. Garnish with an orange peel.

See our Smoked Old Fashioned Recipe

2. Smoked Boulevardier

Ingredients

• 1 oz. bourbon
• 1 oz. Campari
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth
• Orange peel
• Hickory chips

Directions

1. Combine bourbon, Campari, and sweet vermouth in a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir well and strain into a rocks glass with ice.
3. Smoke the cocktail with hickory chips  with a smoke lid for 1-2 minutes.
4. Garnish with an orange peel.

You can follow our traditional boulevardier recipe and just add some smoke!

3. Smoked Maple Manhattan

Ingredients

• 2 oz. bourbon
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth
• 1/2 oz. maple syrup
• Orange peel
• Oak chips

Directions

1. Combine bourbon, sweet vermouth, and maple syrup in a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir well and strain into a rocks glass with ice.
3. Smoke the cocktail with oak chips with a smoke lid for 1-2 minutes.
4. Garnish with an orange peel.

Try our Smoked Manhattan

4. Smoked Whiskey Sour

Ingredients

• 2 oz. bourbon
• 1 oz. lemon juice
• 1/2 oz. simple syrup
• Egg white
• Applewood chips

Directions

1. Combine bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake well and strain into a rocks glass with ice.
3. Smoke the cocktail with applewood chips with a smoke lid for 1-2 minutes.
4. Garnish with a lemon twist.

5. Smoked Kentucky Mule

Ingredients

• 2 oz. bourbon
• 1 oz. lime juice
• Ginger beer
• Lime wedge
• Hickory chips

Directions

1. Fill a copper mug with ice and add bourbon and lime juice.
2. Top with ginger beer and stir well.
3. Smoke the cocktail with hickory chips with a smoke lid for 1-2 minutes.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge.

6. Smoked Peach Old Fashioned

Ingredients

• 2 oz. bourbon
• 1/2 oz. peach puree
• 1/2 oz. simple syrup
• 2 dashes of peach bitters
• Peach slice
• Cherrywood chips

Directions

1. Combine bourbon, peach puree, simple syrup, and peach bitters in a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir well and strain into an Old Fashioned glass with ice.
3. Smoke the cocktail with cherrywood chips with a smoke lid for 1-2 minutes.
4. Garnish with a peach slice.

7. Smoked Cherry Manhattan

Ingredients

• 2 oz. bourbon
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth
• 1/2 oz. cherry liqueur
• Cherry
• Oak chips

Directions

1. Combine bourbon, sweet vermouth, and cherry liqueur in a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
3. Smoke the cocktail with oak chips and cover with a glass smoking cloche or smoke for 1-2 minutes.
4. Garnish with a cherry.

Final Word

Smoked cocktails add a new dimension to classic drinks and can elevate the flavors of your favorite bourbon cocktails. While smoking a cocktail may seem intimidating at first, with the right tools and ingredients, it's an easy and rewarding technique to master. Try one of these 7 best smoked bourbon cocktails at your next gathering or enjoy one on a cozy night in. Cheers!