Flavoured Smoke & Bubbles, Creative Mixology
Smoked cocktail: 3 techniques and 6 recipes to smoke your cocktails
Oct
A smoked cocktail plays first to the nose: the smoke arrives before the first sip. Bubble gun, wood-chip smoker or cloche: each technique gives a different effect and taste.
“A smoked cocktail is the effect that gets every phone out in a bar. But behind the show, there’s a real taste: woody, indulgent, sometimes almost sweet.”
— Your trend hunter
SMOKE & BUBBLES
Three smokes, three effects
Choose your technique, then six recipes to showcase it
Wood smoke
The smoker burns wood chips (oak, cherry, apple): a woody, toasted taste that infuses the glass.
Aromatic vapour
The bubble gun releases an aroma without combustion: as a bubble or a cloud, with dozens of flavours.
3 ways to smoke a cocktail
1. The bubble gun: aromatic vapour
No flame: the flavoured bubble gun heats a liquid aroma and turns it into scented vapour. Dip the tip in the bubble liquid and a bubble settles on the glass; it bursts and releases its aroma. Without liquid, you get a cloud that envelops the cocktail. With the smoke aroma (birch, oak, vanilla, juniper) or the cherrywood aroma, the smoky effect is guaranteed, with no wood chips or ash.
2. The wood-chip smoker: real wood smoke
The smoker sits on the glass. You light a pinch of wood chips with a torch, the smoke flows down into the glass and infuses it in 30 to 60 seconds, then you lift it off. The taste is more intense and toasted. The round smoker kit comes with 4 wood types; the Signature Zestée kit adds the torch; the electric smoker works without a torch or flame.
3. The cloche: the reveal
The cocktail is placed under a glass cloche filled with smoke (from the smoker or the gun, in cloud mode), then lifted in front of the guest. The show is at its peak and the aroma very present.
| Technique | Taste | Visual effect | Who for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bubble gun | Light aroma, dozens of flavours possible | Bubble or cloud | Bars, events, fast service |
| Wood-chip smoker | Woody, toasted, intense | Smoke escaping from the glass | Whisky lovers, home use, low volumes |
| Cloche | Depends on the smoke used | Theatrical reveal | Table service, signature cocktails |
6 smoked cocktail recipes
1. The smoked old fashioned
6 cl of bourbon or rye, 1 cl of sugar syrup, 2 dashes of aromatic bitters. Smoke the glass upside down on the smoker (oak or cherry wood chips), then build the cocktail over a large ice cube and finish with an orange zest.
2. The whisky sour with a bubble
A frothy whisky sour, topped with a smoke-flavoured bubble: the bubble bursts on the foam and perfumes every sip.
3. The smoked margarita
5 cl of tequila, 2 cl of triple sec, 1.5 cl of lime. Shake, serve in a salt-rimmed glass, then add a cloud of smoke aroma. To go further, replace part of the tequila with mezcal, which is naturally smoky.
4. The smoked negroni
3 cl of gin, 3 cl of red vermouth, 3 cl of Italian bitter. Stir over ice, strain, then place the glass under the cloche with cherry wood chips: the wood softens the bitterness.
5. The smoked espresso martini
The classic espresso martini, topped with a coffee or vanilla-flavoured bubble. Indulgent and spectacular.
6. The smoked apple mocktail (alcohol-free)
10 cl of pressed apple juice, 1 cl of maple syrup, 1 cl of lemon juice, a dash of soda water. Smoke the glass with apple wood chips: a smoked cocktail everyone can drink.
Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health; drink responsibly.
Good habits
- With a smoker: work in a ventilated area, keep the torch away from anything flammable, and empty the filter once the chips have cooled.
- Don’t inhale the smoke directly: it perfumes the glass; it isn’t meant to be “smoked”.
- With a gun: use one tank (or one coil) per aroma to keep flavours clean. Our refills guide tells you what to use for your model.
- Bubble liquid is not for drinking as is: it is only used to form the bubble. Store it out of the reach of children.
- A bubble that slides off? On fizzy or very strong drinks, place it on a bubble support spoon. More tips in our article on bubbles that don’t stick.
Frequently asked questions
Which wood should you use to smoke a cocktail?
Oak for whisky and amber cocktails, cherry for a soft, fruity note, apple for a light smoke, pecan or hickory for a more intense taste.
How long should you smoke a cocktail?
With a smoker, 30 to 60 seconds is enough. Beyond that, the smoke can become acrid.
Does the smoke bubble have a taste?
It mainly adds an aroma, released when it bursts. Since smell makes up a large part of taste, the cocktail seems different.
Can you smoke a cocktail without a smoker?
Yes, with a bubble gun and a smoke aroma, without flame or wood chips. Or by using a naturally smoky spirit, such as a peated whisky or a mezcal.
DÉLICE BAR SELECTION
Smoked cocktail equipment
Bubble gun, wood-chip smokers and smoke aromas: everything you need to try all three techniques.
Choose your smoke
Scented bubble or wood smoke: find the tool that will turn your cocktails into a show.
See the bubble gunsKEEP READING
