It’s February, which means Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Whether you enjoy or despise the day, we’ve whipped up a decadent smoked cocktail for the occasion. We called it the Smoked Cherry Cordial.
Our Smoked Cherry Cordial is a rich cocktail that will please the senses. You will want to try this cocktail if you like Manhattans or other decadent, whiskey-forward cocktails.
Ingredients and Tools
You will need a few ingredients and tools to make the Smoked Whiskey Cordial. First, you will need chocolate bitters. You can generally find these at any liquor store. Also, maple syrup is a must for this recipe. You will also need a cocktail smoker and a butane torch. Although you might be able to light the wood in the smoker using a regular Bic and a little skill, the cocktail smoker kit is necessary.
You will also need cherries for this recipe. We recommend using the leftover cherries from our Cherry Bounce Recipe. However, you have other options if you haven’t made your batch. First, you could use fresh cherries if you can find them available. Make sure you pit them and remove the stems. Otherwise, you could use frozen cherries. Just make sure you thaw them ahead of time. Finally, you could whip up a batch of boozy cherries using a quick recipe, such as the one here.
Of course, you need whiskey to add to your cocktail. We use Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond in most of our cocktail recipes. We love it because it is an excellent bourbon with traditional oak and bourbon flavors. It is also widely available and reasonably priced. If you haven’t read our review of Evan Williams BiB, you can find it here.
A cocktail smoker kit that includes a butane torch and four types of wood chips.
Crafting the Cocktail
Add the cherries to a glass or shaker with bitters. Smash until juicy. You want to extract as much of the cherry juice as possible. Add the whiskey and stir. Use a strainer and pour the contents into a clean rocks glass. Load your cocktail smoker with cherry wood chips and place it over the glass. Light the wood until it begins to smoke. Cover with the lid and allow the smoke to infuse the drink. Garnish with a cherry or two, and enjoy!
Happy Exploring!
Smoked Cherry Cordial
Ingredients
- 2 oz Whiskey
- 4-5 dashes Chocolate Bitters
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 4-5 each Cherries
Instructions
- Add cherries, maple syrup, and bitters to a glass or shaker. Smash the cherries until juicy.
- Add the whiskey and stir.
- Fill the cocktail smoker with a pinch of cherry wood chips. Place the smoker over your glass and light using the butane torch.
- As the smoke begins to run into the glass, place the cover on top of the smoke. Allow the smoke to infuse the cocktail for 1-2 minutes.
- Remove the cover and enjoy!