It is the homestretch of the holiday run, and if you are stuck for a unique gift for the potable-quaffing whiskey-sipping person on your gift list, there is a late option you may explore. Consider selecting the whiskey smoking gift set for them (and possibly yourself). Before you step away and consider this a touch too exotic, calm yourself, and let's explore the option.
Some years ago, a trend emerged where bartenders and mixologists adopted the practice of adding literal smoke to the mixing process. The development of the Waylon Cocktail involved smoking not whiskey but Coca-Cola, and mixing that with spirits. These early endeavors involved some convoluted apparatus needs, such as smoke chambers, tubing, and bell jars to encapsulate glassware to impose the flavor of smoke to the mixture.
As this practice gained popularity, it became somewhat more conventional, and the marketplace responded accordingly. Now it is possible to engage in this optional practice in the home, with far less complexity.
Initially, when this began to catch on as a more common practice, I had reservations. It felt to me, beyond the stunt novelty of the act, that you were deviating from the core of the cocktail mixture too much, or imparting more flavor elements to a bourbon and whiskey that may corrupt the craft. However, instead of saying “No” outright, this warranted compulsory exploration.
I still hold to some initial resistance on the practice of involving smoke in drinks, but if you have a recipe that is augmented by the inclusion, then you have some merit. As for the involvement with straight liquor, I find more flexibility based on personal standards. In that milieu, I suggest there is room to explore this involvement that will have pleasurable dividends.
This whiskey smoker setup is pretty sweet. Cherry smoke flavor for the win 🏆. pic.twitter.com/5psIOtkGCp
— Greg (@ALWearyDad) October 26, 2025
The Market Finds a Way
As the modern practice of smoking began, there was the challenge of having the specific tools to engage in the practice correctly, and that led to the early practitioners having a bit of an exclusive edge. But with popularity came innovation, and soon in-home kits were being offered that made what had been an arcane drinking option something accessible. Now you need not look at this as an exotic drinking practice but one worth enjoying in mixed company.
Today, these kits provide all the means to explore the smoking experience, and it is not a difficult practice. Within one box, you can have all of the needed elements to experiment and enjoy. With some deviations, what you can expect to get as far as the tools should involve a wooden cocktail cap, a mesh holder, a torch, and a variety of differing wood chips to lend flavor options.
After pouring your preferred choice of brown liquor, you cover the glass with the wood frame. The center has a cutout for the mesh basket where you place the wood pellets (most kits offer half a dozen wood options). Using the torch, you burn the wood directly and, after ignition, cover it with a provided cap. The wood frame has ports on the bottom so the smoke descends into the glass. If you prefer ice, it will aid the process as this means the smoke will then hang directly over the fluid.
🥃I had a smoked Old Fashioned the other day, fantastic. pic.twitter.com/IFSinDteed
— 🏒Unapologetically_Canadian🦫 (@ABSonrOfVikings) December 21, 2025
The Flavor Results
As I initially tried out the smoking practice, I did come across a small surprise. When it came time to sip the results, the smoke was blatantly evident, as expected. This was a new component and lent a curious yet familiar flavor experience. The question would be, is this something I would indulge in on the regular? But then things began to evolve.
As I continued to sip the imparted bourbon, the smoke gave way, but then there was a lingering essence. Over time, there was a distinct flavor of the wood itself that remained. This is always a signature flavor element of various brands, but now it was something that was added at my own doing. Now this is where I arrived at a conclusion.
Smoking a bourbon is something I will engage in with the mid-range labels or below. Top-tier bourbons are meant to be sipped and savored for the character that has been developed over generations of distillers. For the same reason that I shy from using top-shelf brands in mixed cocktails - where the quality is compromised or lost in the mixture - adding smoke to those complex elements will mask or eclipse the inherent characteristics.
But take a more straightforward but drinkable common brand, such as Jim Beam, and the exploration here will pay dividends. This provides a less complex baseline, and then you can experiment with the different wood flavors to see what you prefer.
Bourbon lends itself to the involvement of smoke based on its creation. The oak barrels are traditionally charred before being filled for aging, imparting flavors and taking on a character dependent on various influences. This means that it is a perfect complement with cigars, and pairs nicely with meats and other foods that are grilled.
What began as an audacious stunt practice or novelty has progressed to a more mainstream drinking option that is now widely accessible and easy to engage in. What makes this a nice gift idea is that it encourages group activity, as you can gather and explore the options and sample among friends. Exploring options with cocktails will expand the experience.
Consider it a good Christmas present option – the gift that keeps on drinking.
Smoked Manhattan
With some variations, this rendition of the classic could become a favorite.
- 2oz. Bourbon
- 3/4 oz.Sweet Vermouth
- A couple of dashes Orange Bitters
- 1 tsp. cocktail cherry juice
Mix ingredients in a cocktail glass and stir to blend. Using the smoking kit, break pieces from a cinnamon stick and light with a torch. Allow smoke to linger on the mixture for roughly one minute, then serve.
