10 drinks worth smoking, and 3 that are not
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Find a pairing that makes your favorite drink worth lingering over. These 10 are strong starting points; the final 3 call for a different approach.
27 August 2026
The 10
Old Fashioned
Bourbon, bitters and sugar give oak smoke a familiar home. Start with a whiskey you know, then change the wood on your next pour.
Manhattan
Rye’s spice and sweet vermouth suit a brief cherry-wood infusion. Finish with a cocktail cherry and serve in a chilled coupe.
Boulevardier
Campari brings bitter orange to this whiskey-and-vermouth cocktail. A light infusion adds smoke while keeping the bittersweet finish distinct.
Whiskey Sour
Fresh lemon cuts through the bourbon’s richness. Let the foam settle before adding a short smoke infusion.
Neat whiskey
A small pour of a familiar bottle makes it easy to notice what the wood adds. Keep an unsmoked pour alongside it for comparison.
Negroni
Gin, Campari and sweet vermouth have a pronounced aroma of their own. Begin with a small pinch of fruitwood and a brief infusion.
Rob Roy
Scotch replaces rye in this vermouth cocktail. A blended or lightly peated whisky gives you room to explore the wood smoke.
Sazerac
Peychaud’s bitters and an absinthe rinse give the Sazerac its distinctive aroma. Use a light fruitwood infusion, then finish with lemon oil.
Hot Toddy
Honey and lemon soften warm whiskey. Use heatproof glassware and let the drink reach a comfortable sipping temperature before smoking.
Aged rum over ice
Oak and vanilla notes pair well with a gentle fruitwood smoke. Serve over a large cube and let the rum remain the focus.
The 3 that are not
Very fizzy drinks
Smoke the spirit or cocktail base first, then add the sparkling mixer. This keeps the bubbles fresh for serving.
Heavily peated whisky
Taste the whisky before adding smoke. A lightly peated bottle is a clearer starting point when you want to compare different woods.
Frozen or cream-heavy drinks
Choose a simple stirred drink for your first wood tasting. Its aroma is easier to compare than a frozen or cream-based cocktail.
Find your preferred pairing
Make 2 small pours of the same drink and smoke 1 lightly. Smell both before tasting. Change the wood or infusion time on your next pour, keeping the drink itself the same.