F&f Smoked Old Fashioned Recipe

Chill glass

Place an Old Fashioned (rocks) glass in the freezer or fill it with ice water to chill while you prepare the cocktail.

Make/prepare ice

Use one large ice cube or a clear large cube. If using a standard ice tray, freeze a single large cube or sphere ahead of time; otherwise use a single big cube from your freezer.

Discard the ice water from the chilled glass if you used it. Add the large ice cube to the chilled Old Fashioned glass.

In a mixing glass or directly in the chilled glass, add 0.5 oz smoked pecan maple syrup and 3 dashes of Angostura bitters.

Add 2 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon to the mixing glass.

Stir the mixture thoroughly for 20–30 seconds with a bar spoon (if you used a mixing glass) to properly chill and slightly dilute the drink. If built directly in the serving glass, stir gently but thoroughly until the glass is cold on the outside (~20 seconds).

If you want an extra smoked aroma to complement the smoked maple syrup: place a small pile (about 1 tablespoon) of wood chips on a heatproof surface or in a smoking tin. Ignite the chips with a torch or lighter until they smolder and produce smoke.

Invert your chilled serving glass or place a smoking cloche/dome over the smoldering chips to capture smoke, or capture smoke in the mixing glass with a cloche then transfer. Allow smoke to accumulate for 10–20 seconds.

Quickly remove the dome, place the large ice cube into the glass (if not already), and pour the stirred cocktail into the smoked glass, or drop the smoked ice cube in. Alternatively, capture smoke in the glass, then set the cocktail into the glass and cover briefly to trap aroma.

If using a torch method directly over the glass, exercise caution to avoid flames near alcohol.

Express the orange peel over the surface of the cocktail by holding it over the drink and giving it a firm squeeze to release the oils, then run the peel around the rim and drop it into the glass as garnish.

Serve immediately and enjoy. Note: the smoked pecan maple syrup already provides a pronounced smoky, nutty sweetness — the optional smoking step only enhances the aroma.