How To Smoke a Glass for Cocktails? A Beginner’s Guide

Have you ever wondered how to smoke a glass for cocktails? This technique adds a rich, smoky flavor that can transform your drink into a gourmet experience. It’s quite simple and only requires a few tools: a lighter, some wood chips or herbs, and a glass.

First, you light the wood chips or herbs and let them smolder. Then, capture the smoke in the glass by placing it upside down over the smoking material. Let the smoke fill the glass for a minute before you turn it right-side up and pour your cocktail.

Things You Need

• Handheld food smoker or smoking gun
• Wood chips (preferably oak, hickory, or applewood)
• Heatproof glass or cocktail glass
• Plastic wrap or a small plate to cover the glass
• Cocktail ingredients

Step 1: Choose the right wood chips:

Select wood chips that complement the flavors of your cocktail. Oak, hickory, and applewood are popular choices for whiskey-based drinks. Apple and cherry wood work well with sweeter cocktails, while mesquite can add a bold, smoky flavor.

Step 2: Prepare the smoking gun:

Fill the smoking gun’s chamber with a small number of wood chips. Be careful not to overfill, as this can cause the chips to smolder rather than smoke.

Step 3: Prepare the glass:

Place your heatproof glass or cocktail glass upside down on a flat surface. If using a delicate cocktail glass, ensure it can withstand the heat from the smoking process.

Step 4: Start smoking

Light the wood chips in the smoking gun using a lighter or match. Allow the chips to start smoking, then blow out any flames. Place the smoking gun’s hose under the inverted glass, and cover the gap with plastic wrap or a small plate to trap the smoke.

Step 5: Fill the glass with smoke

Gently squeeze the smoking gun’s bellows to pump smoke into the glass. Continue until the glass is filled with a dense smoke. The more smoke you add, the stronger the smoky flavor will be in your cocktail.

Step 6: Let the smoke infuse

Allow the smoke to infuse the glass for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. This will give the glass time to absorb the smoky aroma and flavor.

Step 7: Prepare your cocktail

Quickly flip the glass over and pour in your prepared cocktail. As you pour, the smoke will escape and infuse your drink with a subtle smoky flavor and aroma.

Step 8: Serve and enjoy

Serve your smoked cocktail immediately and enjoy the unique flavors and aromas imparted by the smoking process.