Smoke

While reviewing my old posts, I discovered a recurring theme that I had not addressed explicitly. The omission was somewhat surprising, since it may be my favorite element in a cocktail. It’s a flavor that’s been the basis of multiple drinks that I’ve created, and the theme for at least one cocktail party that I’ve hosted.

I’m talking about smoke.

Smoke is a part of the reason I’m such a fanatic about mezcal, and the flavor I crave when the weather turns cold. For me, smoke evokes the imagery of a crackling fire in the hearth, or the biting scent of burning autumn leaves, or the glow of a campfire in the wilderness. Since taking the deep dive into bluegrass, I associate smoke with the firepit around which we strum and sing into the wee hours. Smoke signifies warmth for both the body and the spirit.

Smoke in cocktails can be imparted by a variety of methods. The choice of liquor is an obvious approach: scotch or mezcal if you want a big hit, whiskey or tequila for a lighter touch. Sometimes, it’s the liqueur (Drambuie, for example) or amaro (such as Sfumato) that provides the smoke. Grilled fruit brings a deliciously subtle smokiness to your favorite smash or cobbler or tiki. Flaming a citrus peel before adding as a garnish is yet another way to enhance a drink’s flavor and aroma.

Or you can go to the source and add smoke itself to the cocktail. One simple method is to light wood chips (or a sprig of rosemary or evergreen) on an inflammable surface and flip a glass upside-down over the flame. Smoke fills the glass while you prepare the cocktail. The glass is carefully turned over and the drink slowly poured, leaving a wispy swirl atop the beverage. Alternatively, there are specialized devices known as smoke infusers, which are essentially reverse bongs. A small chamber is filled with wood chips and ignited; a fan draws air through the chamber and out the nozzle, producing an impressive amount of smoke for filling inverted glasses or a cocktail shaker. I recommend moderation with the latter technique – a little smoke goes a long way when shaken directly into the drink!

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After the smoke clears, the cocktails are ready to assemble