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This Smoked Old Fashioned recipe takes a classic Old Fashioned cocktail to the next level with smoked ice. This intriguing cocktail will impress any whiskey or bourbon lover. No fancy smoke machine is needed to make a great smoky cocktail.

The Old Fashioned cocktail has been around since the mid to late 1800s and originated in New York. As one of the oldest and most classic of cocktails, it’s tough to just add a new modern twist. We added our own take by smoking water and making smoked ice cubes using an ice cube mold. From there we follow the classic portions of this bourbon cocktail for a fantastic smoky old fashioned!

Unlike most other smoked cocktail recipes, this one needs no fancy tools such as an expensive smoke machine to get great smoky flavor into your cocktail. Just water, a smoker, and some ice cube molds.

Recipe Ingredients

The main ingredient is bourbon so the flavor of the Smoked Old Fashioned cocktail is going to vary depending on the brand of bourbon you use.

• Good Quality Bourbon – For the best bourbon that is also affordable use Bulleit or Buffalo Trace. For something a little more elevated try Basil Hayden or Blanton’s. Or you can use Rye Whiskey as well.
• Smoked Ice Cube – The smoked ice cube slowly melts to add a smoky twist on the drink.
• Cane Sugar
• Aromatic Bitters – like Angostura bitters
• Cocktail Cherry – Alternatively you can use smoked cherries if you can find them.
• Optional – splash of water
• Garnish – Orange Peel Twist

Preparation – Make Smoked Ice Cubes

Adding a fun ice cube to the glass helps with the presentation. And using ice from smoked water allows the flavor to steep into the glass as the ice melts.

• Smoked Water: Simply place water into a glass baking dish, then place the dish into your smoker and smoke for 2 hours. Filter the water through a cheesecloth to remove any ash.
• Freeze into Ice Cubes: Place the smoked water into your favorite ice cube molds and place into the freezer until solid.

Smoked water will naturally be cloudy versus clear. You can read more details in our article on how to smoke ice.

How to Make a Smoked Old Fashioned

1. In a cocktail shaker, add the sugar, 3 dashes of Angostura bitters, and water (if using). Stir to dissolve. Then add the ice cubes (NOT the smoked ice cube) and bourbon (or whiskey), and stir to combine. Alternatively, you shake to combine.
2. Place your smoked ice cube in an old-fashioned glass and strain the drink into your glass. Garnish with a cherry and the orange peel.

Other Variations of a Classic

• You can use simple syrup versus sugar or even maple syrup.
• The best way to alter the flavor besides the bourbon is to play around with the bitters and the garnish. You can try various orange bitters or even something a little more savory.
• Another great option is to use a lemon peel versus orange.

Tools Used

• It’s best to use a cocktail shaker.
• Good molds for making ice cubes. Alternatively, you can just use any ice cube from larger ice cube trays.
• Rocks glass or old fashioned glass.

Other Cocktail Recipes

Explore all of our cocktail recipes or select from some of our favorites. Spice any of our cocktails with grilled lemon for an interesting flavor profile.

• Blueberry Gin and Lemonade Cocktail
• Bourbon Cocktail with Grilled Lemon Simple Syrup
• Spiked Hot Apple Cider Cocktail with Bourbon
• Grilled Lemon Whiskey Smash

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About Vindulge

Mary (a certified sommelier and recipe developer) and Sean (backyard pitmaster) are co-authors of the critically acclaimed cookbook, Fire + Wine, and have been creating content for the IACP nominated website Vindulge since 2009. They live in Oregon on a farm just outside Portland.

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