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Perfect Smoked Cherry Old Fashioned

Perfect Smoked Cherry Old Fashioned - featured image
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A smoky twist on the classic Old Fashioned cocktail featuring bourbon, smoked cherry syrup, and bitters, garnished with a smoked cherry and orange peel. Easy to make and perfect for impressing guests or enjoying a cozy night in.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 oz bourbon whiskey (e.g., Buffalo Trace)
  • 1/2 oz smoked cherry syrup (made by simmering cherries with sugar and optional smoked wood chips or liquid smoke)
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • 1 dash orange bitters
  • 1/4 oz simple syrup (homemade or store-bought)
  • Large ice cubes or spheres
  • 1 smoked cherry (fresh cherry smoked with a smoking gun or small wood chip flame)
  • Orange peel (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Make the smoked cherry syrup: In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup fresh or frozen cherries, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1/2 cup water. Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves and cherries soften, about 10 minutes.
  2. Add smoke flavor: Remove from heat and stir in a few drops of liquid smoke or infuse briefly with wood chips using a smoking gun. Let cool completely, then strain through a fine mesh to remove solids. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  3. Prepare glass and garnish: Chill an Old Fashioned glass with ice and water. Peel a strip of orange zest and set aside. Smoke a fresh cherry for 30 seconds to 1 minute using a smoking gun or gently toast over a candle flame.
  4. Mix the cocktail: In a mixing glass, combine 2 oz bourbon, 1/2 oz smoked cherry syrup, 1/4 oz simple syrup, 2 dashes Angostura bitters, and 1 dash orange bitters. Add large ice cubes.
  5. Stir gently: Stir the mixture with a bar spoon for about 30 seconds to chill and slightly dilute without overwatering.
  6. Strain and garnish: Empty the ice from the serving glass and strain the cocktail in. Express the oils from the orange peel over the glass, rub the peel around the rim, then drop it in. Add the smoked cherry on a cocktail pick or directly into the glass.
  7. Optional final touch: Light a small piece of wood chip or cinnamon stick in the glass and cover briefly with a coaster to trap smoke before serving, then remove the cover.

Notes

Use mid-range bourbon with caramel and vanilla notes for best flavor. If no smoking gun is available, gently toast the cherry over a candle flame. Large ice cubes or spheres melt slower and keep the drink undiluted longer. Stir gently instead of shaking to maintain clarity and texture. Adjust sweetness by varying cherry syrup and bitters. Store smoked cherry syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks; warm gently before use.

Nutrition

Keywords: Old Fashioned, smoked cherry, bourbon cocktail, smoky cocktail, easy cocktail recipe, classic cocktail twist, bourbon, bitters, cherry syrup

Find it online: https://sparklespoon.com/perfect-smoked-cherry-old-fashioned-recipe-easy-step-by-step-guide/