7 Best Smoked Bourbon Cocktail Drinks

Quick Answer

The best smoked bourbon cocktails take a bourbon-forward classic and add a layer of wood smoke that deepens its flavor. Seven that work especially well are the Smoked Old Fashioned, Smoked Boulevardier, Smoked Maple Manhattan, Smoked Whiskey Sour, Smoked Kentucky Mule, Smoked Peach Old Fashioned, and Smoked Cherry Manhattan. To make any of them you need three things: a cocktail smoker or smoke lid, wood chips (applewood, hickory, or oak are the usual picks), and a bourbon with enough backbone to stand up to the smoke. Build the drink as normal, then trap the smoke over the finished cocktail for a short infusion before serving.

The 7 Smoked Bourbon Cocktails at a Glance

Cocktail	Beyond the bourbon	Flavor profile	Suggested wood
Smoked Old Fashioned	Sugar, aromatic bitters	Rich, spirit-forward, lightly sweet	Oak or hickory
Smoked Boulevardier	Campari, sweet vermouth	Bitter-sweet and complex	Oak
Smoked Maple Manhattan	Sweet vermouth, maple, bitters	Silky, sweet, warming	Hickory
Smoked Whiskey Sour	Lemon juice, simple syrup	Bright, tart, balanced	Applewood
Smoked Kentucky Mule	Ginger beer, lime	Crisp, spicy, refreshing	Applewood
Smoked Peach Old Fashioned	Peach, bitters, sugar	Fruity, mellow, sweet	Applewood or oak
Smoked Cherry Manhattan	Sweet vermouth, cherry, bitters	Dark, fruity, robust	Hickory or oak

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 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!

Want the non-smoked classics too? Start with our roundup of essential bourbon cocktail recipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best bourbon for smoked cocktails?

A flavor-forward bourbon with a bit of backbone works best, because smoke can overwhelm a delicate spirit. Many bartenders reach for a bourbon at a slightly higher proof, since the extra strength and richer flavor stand up to the smoke rather than getting lost under it. For sweeter or fruit-driven drinks like a Maple Manhattan or Peach Old Fashioned, a smoother wheated bourbon is a good match; for spirit-forward drinks like the Old Fashioned or Boulevardier, a higher-rye bourbon adds welcome spice.

What wood chips are best for smoked bourbon cocktails?

The three most popular choices are applewood, hickory, and oak. Applewood gives a mild, slightly sweet smoke that suits brighter drinks like a Whiskey Sour or Kentucky Mule. Hickory is bolder and pairs well with rich, sweet cocktails such as a Maple or Cherry Manhattan. Oak sits in the middle and is the classic, balanced choice for an Old Fashioned or Boulevardier. If you are still choosing, our guide to the right wood chips for smoking cocktails breaks down the options in more detail.

How long should you smoke a bourbon cocktail?

Not long. Once the smoke fills the glass or the space under a smoke lid, letting the drink rest for roughly ten to thirty seconds is usually enough. Go shorter for a subtle background note and a little longer for a bolder, smokier character. The goal is to complement the bourbon, not bury it, so it is best to start light and add more smoke if you want it.

Do you smoke the glass or the drink?

You can do either, and both work. Smoking the empty glass first coats it with aroma before you pour, giving a lighter touch. Smoking the finished drink — for example by trapping smoke over it with a smoke lid — infuses the liquid itself for a deeper, more even flavor. The recipes here use a smoke lid over the finished cocktail, which is the simplest way to get consistent results.

Can you make a smoked cocktail without a cocktail smoker?

Yes, though a dedicated smoker or smoke lid makes it far easier and more consistent. Without one, you can light a small wood plank or chips and quickly invert the glass over the smoke, or use smoked ice made ahead of time. These workarounds take more effort and give you less control, which is why most people who make smoked cocktails regularly end up using a purpose-built smoker.