Smoking Cocktails - What's The Best Technique?

[@CocktailChemistry]

Still sleeping like a champ: helixsleep.com/cocktailchemistry for up to $200 off your Helix BUTANE TORCH: amzn.to/3mC4Cy8 SMOKE TOP: amzn.to/3zkWSEx SMOKING GUN: amzn.to/3sPeZzO WOOD PLANKS: amzn.to/3krcVua

[@jaydenslaptop]

Nice

[@asraiSOA]

Bitters bottle?

[@michelleh6091]

I know James who invented the smoke top, he used to work at my bar. He is a wonderful person and supporting his business is amazing. It’s also a really easy and effective way to smoke a glass!

[@AlexG-vb7kp]

Awesome!

[@katrostorm3075]

Oh really 🤔 interesting💨💨🥃👍

[@jamesjohnston2367]

I have the smoke top and it works fantastic.

[@michaellichtenstein9258]

The fact that he's playing Take Five in the background already has an "Old Fashioned" vibe to the video 😆! Seriously though, good song choice! 🖤

[@spookerd]

For the smoke guns the coolest smoking container I saw was a bar that used a modified cake display. They drilled a hole in the bottom of the wooden cake stand, and used a glass display lid to seal the smoke in w/ a finished cocktail.

[@codywright5336]

Love smoked cocktails! I think a step in between these that could be added is smoking a small pile of wood chips on top of a plank as opposed to just the plank itself - produces quite a bit more smoke.

[@ChadWinters]

I do this with chips on a stone slate

[@Roopfert]

go with OSB for that extra gluey taste

[@coles7811]

Yup. This way is more similar to the smoke gun. It fills the cup up with a lot of smoke and the plank acts as the lid to hold the smoke in while the drink is being made

[@Saint_jw]

My takeaway from this vid is trying maple syrup in an Old Fashioned!!

[@bourdie1979]

That is MY FAVOURITE WAY to make my oldfashions. A little goes a long way =)

[@brandonboyd9621]

In this world of gimmicks and tricks, i really appreciate the detailed straight to the point video. Thank you

[@MrMoney331]

I have the Gun and just recently got the smoke top. The gun is great but man nothing beats that smoke top for cocktails. It is just so much quicker. I throw it on there and boom done. I always feel like i'm gonna knock over the gun. I did once and burned a pillow. Also I feel like i'm gonna set the smoke alarm off with the gun. I am for sure gonna try that smoked Ice cube and smoke Daquiri!

[@joshayala9022]

Had a caipirinha once with Sakura smoke, they used cherry blossom tea for it with a smoke gun. I’ve also seen a large cloche used over a plate where they burn the wood chips on the plate, set the glass with ice next to to it, cover the whole thing with the cloche, let the smoke do it’s thing, remove it, and pour in the drink. Gets the smoke into the ice and all over the outside of the glass so you taste it with every sip. My personal favorite was a tiki drink served inside a cobbler shaker where it was filled all the way up with crushed ice, decorated, then they put the top of the shaker back on, put some spices on the strainer portion, torched them and put the cap back on. Remove the whole top for the guest, add a sippy cylinder and enjoy.

[@barbz1548]

I just received my Smoke Cocktail kit. It was a reasonable price. Now to go out & buy the Old Fashion liquor! I'm excited. I won't be binge drinking, but I will present it among company! A good steak meal with this awesome drink & WOW, it'll be a hit!

[@Skizze37]

If you're going to the hardware store, be sure that the woods you're buying aren't treated. Also if you know your way around a hardware store, odds are you can make that overpriced vent of a "SmokeTop" for all of five bucks

[@HisVirusness]

Support small-scale entrepreneurs. Yeah, you could make it custom, but the thought of making it yourself didn't exist until you saw the actual product.

[@Telamon8]

A plank of wood for the base structure, a tea filter basket for the, uhh, filter that holds the wood chips. Even accounting for how expensive wood has gotten recently, that's still a far cry from the 50 USD which the SmokeTop costs, and is far easier to wash afterward; though it will lack the clean aesthetics of it, unless you do, like, engravings into it. (that is, assuming you already have all the tools necessary, otherwise the price of a good drill and hole saw bits might level the cost)

[@lurksnitchtongue8986]

@@HisVirusness Just because you're a small scale entrepreneur doesn't mean people are going to roll over and pay whatever outrageous price you demand.

[@SkankbumJerry]

@@lurksnitchtongue8986 Fax!

[@blindsspecialist327]

Im sold on the smoke top, had a PERFECT presentation of that at McKormick & Schmidts, boy the absolutely best n clean. Who is going to try one of these smoker-tokers?

[@COMPNOR-97]

My wife got me the smoke top for my birthday a few years ago (best way to get it) and it's great for filling up the glass. I have a smoking gun but haven't used it yet. Overall I'd agree with your analysis. Too many fun things to try not enough time.

[@SkillBoostingTips]

I use 2 similar cocktail glasses, say whiskey glass for this example. Use the shaker strainer and set it on the first glass, add some wood chips for bbq like cherry and use the torch to catch the chips on fire and top it with that second glass which puts out the fire and now you have 2 smoke saturated glasses to make drinks. Alternatively you can make the drink in the lower glass for the show aspect of it then once done add a large cube and serve.

[@BleuSkiddew]

5:00 Imagine the taste if they smoked the inside of the cocktail shaker just before shaking the drink.

[@cgotterba]

I really want to get the smoke top, and I generally don't have a problem with spending a premium for a company putting forward a new innovative product, probably doesn't have a ton of volume, and has a lot of marketing costs. BUT it seems like the type of thing that would sell for $10-$15 if it was a common household item sold in a competitive marketplace. Given internet marketing, new product, etc., I'd gladly pay $30-$35. But .... $50 is just too much for what it is.

[@spudd86]

I agree, especially since it looks like it would take a few minutes for a pair of CNC lathes to make. On lathe for each piece. The price is absurd.

[@JPAnor]

just built it yourself, 1 untreated plank, cut the lower part, 2 smaller tops and drill through them all, add a small metal tea mesh.

[@Justapotato14]

@@spudd86 to be totally honest, I could probably make one in 4 minutes on my CNC router as long as I don't put those decorative ribs in it

[@meghnil]

You can buy the smoketop on AliExpress for 10 bucks

[@roussmade7360]

I love how take 5 is always jamming away !

[@HenriFaust]

You could easily build your own SmokeTop if you're handy with power tools or work in construction or a machine shop. If you're a glassblower you could make a superior transparent version out of borosilicate glass.

[@KNESBEY]

Awesome video with great explanations. I have both the fog hat and smoking gun and I use the hat all the time and the gun almost never. I literally have to look for reasons to use the gun whereas the hat works for 99% of smoked drinks and is much easier to use.

[@swolf7878]

Step 4 if you have a cabinet or offset smoker!!!!! make smoked simple syrup bottle and good to go for several cocktails. Downside is no fancy smoke in the glass.

[@artirony410]

I have this thing for smoking where its like the smoking gun but it uses a box that you put the glasses in that fills with smoke via a tube

[@ToddScalzott]

Try a smoke gun and an Erlenmeyer flask. Smoke into the flask and add the cocktail of your choice, mixed and ready to go. Swirl as much as you like based on the smokiness that you desire. Decant into glass. This one is cool because you can pour out the smoke on top of the cocktail.

[@carl_busch]

I have another version of the smoke top and love it. Totally worth the $50.

[@yourdrinkingbuddy]

I need to buy one.

[@carl_busch]

@@yourdrinkingbuddy so great and easy to use

[@TheWeePearl]

I haven’t tried these new smoking tops. They look really cool and easier to store than the smoking gun. I just use a torch and wood chips on a sizzle plate for my home bar. Works great!

[@ljd1031]

I store my smoking gun in its box on my cookbook shelves...works perfectly

[@TheWeePearl]

I use it at work, but don’t smoke cocktails at home enough to justify it.

[@elwamplero]

cheers, thanks. I'm a fellow barman/cocktail guy.

[@hangingoutwithryan]

Just got a smoke top and loving it! Nice video

[@christinecamley]

Fabulous demonstration of the different ways to achieve making smoky cocktails! Really helpful and I am definitely going to buy one of these smoking guns! Thanks so much!!

[@remifjelldal7299]

my favorite way is to just add a bit of mezcal to the cocktail. the mezcal negroni for examle, delicious smokey negroni. (Granted using a smoky mezcal).

[@z4vendetta]

Commenting because of the smooth saxophone playing 'Take Five' in the background. XD

[@drawingablankesq]

I'm drawing a blank here, what was that other smoking video you did a few years ago? I recall you used grapefruit juice and bubbles and a couple other smoking techniques.

[@alexmikhylov]

there are 3 linked videos on screen at the end of the videos

[@sinecurve9999]

If you really want to dial up the smoky flavor to eleven, use the smoking gun and a straw to bubble the smoke through the cocktail itself.

[@daddynitro199]

I’ve smoked a spicy sour inside the shaker with cherrywood. It’s a little aggressive, but so were the rest of the ingredients.

[@M4nti_s]

Ahh yes just the sponsorship I would’ve expected

[@cameronbatko]

FYI I just went to their site and they do sell blemish ones for $25. I got one, a 4 pack of chips and 2 sets of 5 screens with shipping for $50. Not a bad deal.

[@dominicbarnes712]

super video, man. Thanks so much. Awesome job

[@ljd1031]

Love the smoked ice idea.... 🧊

[@nathanikeda9723]

Love the Dave Brubeck

[@sebastianramos6137]

Hey bro, I smoke a lot of a meat so I feel like there’s a better way of smoking the glasses/drinks. When I make a fire for smoking i don’t introduce any of the smoke in the beginning as I only want the clean burning smoke when the fire is fully developed. I think the smoke would be less over powering if you let the clean burning smoke in instead of the, in my opinion, dirty smoke. As the clean smoke produces a much lighter and enjoyable Smokey flavor. Maybe I’ll put a few glasses on the smoker next time I fire up it up to try it though.

[@IvanSchlachter]

Well done sir this was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for the info, you rock!

[@jstrandquist]

Poor man's method (which I may have found on this channel in the past): 1. Get wood smoking chips ($3 at Walmart). 2. Light one chip on fire with a match and place onto a flat, fireproof surface. 3. Let it burn for a few seconds while you pull your frosted glass out of the freezer. 4. Invert the glass over the chip. It will quickly burn out and smoke up the glass. 5. Flip the glass back over and pour the drink in. A sheet of aluminum foil folded over several times makes a great work surface for this method; freezing the glass helps the smoke stay in the glass.

[@seanbuckland2712]

Would freezing the glass and then immediately adding heat result in a thermal shock? Asking because I have a nice glass that I’d prefer not to have in pieces.

[@jstrandquist]

Not at all-- the heat contained in the smoke is not nearly enough to change the glass' temperature to any appreciable degree.

[@seanbuckland2712]

@@jstrandquist Okay, thank you! Going to mesquite smoke an old fashioned right now.

[@thomassmith4609]

Bro. This mattress plug is awful. I came here for a cocktail.

[@prettyboy1970]

Great info! Thanks!

[@Ericwearspjs]

"Psychonauts" is a good video game. It reminds me of this Video

[@aaronsirkman8375]

I'm....really not sure what about this reminded you of Psychonauts, but it is a really good game, for sure.

[@flairingvideo]

Thank for the education Sir!

[@boozeontherocks]

Great comparison,

[@DasDschinghisKhan]

I am wondering what the effect of smoking "herbs" and not wood would be...

[@JohnnyTronny19841]

I once tried infusing a good single malt with some choice herbals. Lagavulin bong water. Effin horrible. 1000000% not suggest.

[@alexphillips5319]

@@JohnnyTronny19841 lagavulin bong water sounds like a Scottish punk thrash metal band

[@DrBrangar]

Smoking things with things that aren't wood, like herbs or tea or even "herbs", is a fairly normal thing.

[@daddynitro199]

If you’re looking for a psychoactive reaction from a cocktail, you’d have better luck adding a tincture to your recipe. Most of the ones I’ve made have tasted unpleasant, but they get me where I’m going. A whiskey sour or something of that ilk would likely cover the tincture flavor most.

[@bravocado]

Interesting video! What are you thoughts on smoking a pint of beer or shandy?

[@benjaminreob3752]

Would love to see a pisco sour from you!!

[@Grandpa_RLP]

How long would a smoke flavor linger in a whiskey? Say you smoked it and put back in the bottle to serve over time.

[@jaxvon]

I'm surprised you didn't use the smoke gun to bubble the smoke through the cocktail like one of those, um, "water pipes". I would have guessed that to be the best method of smoke infusion.

[@toddellner5283]

Fifty five bucks for the smoke top?!?! A wood puck, a wood block. A screen from the neighborhood dispensary. Some glue. Total cost a few cents.

[@MondyTS]

Can I ask you a favor? Could you add Midori to your cocktail calculator? I love that thing but I'm trying to make some midori cocktails better and that tool could really help me figure out some things!

[@dominicbarnes712]

What other woods wood work instead of oak or chickory? Would acacia work? Why are oak and chickory the go-tos? Does the choice of wood affect the taste of the smoke much?

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

SMOKIN'!!!!!

[@GradyWirth]

Take Five

[@silveravnt]

Question regarding the plank: It's clearly two pieces of wood @1:00 adhered or fastened together in some way. If it' glued then you'd be burning a small amount of that glue each time you torch the wood. No?

[@SharleenLarryGuevara]

Amazing video as usual! By the way, where did you get your rocks/old fashioned glass? Thanks! More power!

[@Zharrgrim]

Should I use treated or untreated wood?

[@toddellner5283]

For the love of GOD do not use treated wood. It's full of copper, chromium, and arsenic salts which is why it kills fungus and insects.

[@drewe51]

With the initial method, why didn't you turn the whole thing upside down? Ie wood plank on top so the smoke falls down into the glass?

[@GlaysonRamos]

what about we do the first method, but then turn the cup up with the plank, to keep the smoke trapped, and just remove it to pour the drink? it's more or less doing the same has the expensive one, i think...

[@AwesomizedArmadillo]

That's what I was thinking, I don't know why you'd give the smoke any more time to escape than you have to. Might even help to pour the cocktail slowly into the smoke to give more time for the flavors to get into the cocktail

[@Justapotato14]

Just a heads up, that board your charing seems to have a glue joint right down the middle

[@rasulbogdan6639]

5:56 Thyme and rosemary were probably the least two things that came to mind when I thought about smoking herbs lol

[@EverettGuess]

One of my all-time favorite cocktails is the Sage Smoked Margarita at Secreto Lounge in Santa Fe, NM. I think they just burn some sage leaves underneath an inverted cocktail shaker and mix the drink in that.

[@acem7749]

Can you smoke your shaker and shake it get the smoke mixed in?

[@geanpierreriveravidal8160]

Where can I get the wood and the hickory? Btw thanks for your videos, they are really helpfull

[@mattia_carciola]

What about making a smoke top at home? It shouldn't be as expensive as buying one

[@thekrazyasian]

What's the point of putting smoke in a drink? does it change the flavour or is it just for aesthetics

[@felixyim7497]

Which butane torch is used in your video? It looks very aesthetic and looks easy to operate with 1 hand. Doesn't seem like the one linked in the description.

[@facetnated]

Have you smoked frozen drinks while they are in the blender? (I have a smoking gun and could do this). I'm just wondering if they'll be way too smoky as smoke seems to be attracted to cold/wet [at least according to my BBQ friends].

[@kotarouriderblack6118]

i felt anxious seeing him holding glass on the bed

[@MaiSophors]

look cool brother

[@b.e.7491]

And what if I put on burned wood a upside down glass, same results ?

[@michaelcase8231]

Couldn't you just save the 50 bucks and take a piece of wood and drill a could of holes in it and make your own "Smoke Top"?

[@jonathanwatson2355]

You have to use wood that will neither poison you nor catch fire.

[@michaelcase8231]

@@jonathanwatson2355 so any hard wood that could be used to smoke food then.

[@mikegallo2143]

Oh the science technique here with three different drinks

[@Fyrwulf]

If I want a smoky Old Fashioned, I'll use Scotch. These gastronomy techniques are cool to watch, but I can't ever see myself spending all the extra time, effort, and money to use them.

[@spencerccraig]

You might also try Mezcal. It's a great addition to Another Fine Mes (bourbon, tequila, punt e Mes, Cointreau, mezcal, and burnt orange peel)

[@bradgoldberg3966]

One of your earlier videos demonstrated a hollow ice ball filled with smoke. It looks like the smoke gun is the only option for that. Is that true?

[@chemistrykrang8065]

There is an older video too, search for "smoke bomb" on this channel and you'll find it.

[@firebeardlongfellow5295]

Okay what is this? I'm instantly curious what this is.

[@paulcardona5893]

Smoke water then make ice poor enjoy and shit very smooth in and out

[@DobbzTheCat]

We Get it you vape!

[@Michael.T.]

I have another version of the Smoke Top and find that my Manhattans have an acrid taste rather than a pleasant smokey one. Are there rules of thumb about how much wood chip to use, how long to apply the torch, or how long to let the chips smoulder? Also, I’ve been using martini glasses for this. Are old fashioned glasses better for smoking?

[@alvarojm750]

Flaring open glasses like a martini won’t hold the smoke as well so they work better for mild flavor. As for your problem with the taste... they might have put some sort of coating on the inside of the wood chip area, I’d hit it with your torch to burn it, char it all up and then scrub it. Edit: as for wood chips and time. I like to fill the reservoir half way and hit it with my torch on max from 1 - 2 inches away from the tip of the flame. Burns the chips less harshly by using more of a hot air approach. Good luck. 👍

[@Michael.T.]

@@alvarojm750 Thanks for taking the time to reply. I’ll give it a try!

[@alvarojm750]

@@Michael.T. Sorry for the wall of text, was a few nightcaps in 😅. Hope it helps.

[@engineer0239]

The smoke top doesn't seem to be hard to DIY

[@americas_soldier1490]

Based on your eyes, wood planks werent the only thing you were smoking

[@DanVR001]

Hehe, "smoking herbs"

[@zachDowlan]

I bought the topper kit with torch for 16$, dont over pay. It's not rocket science

[@GregNagelocbeerblog]

What other things could you smoke your cocktail with? Sage? Banana peels? Crack? Serious responses only.

[@chrisadams777]

Do not care for the lengthy ad in middle of video

[@ryanwalters2634]

You lost me with the Helix ad...... c'mon

[@gordongekko5356]

That’s a perfect example of a failed hair transplant..

[@pavkey88]

Guns are great but break way too easy

[@JPAnor]

50 bucks for a piece of wood. That s a way to scam people

[@windhelmguard5295]

why buy wood chips? just buy a chunk of wood and a chisel.

[@TheKylerStern]

Where your baseboard and wall meet needs to be caulked in. you'll get insects coming from under otherwise.

[@danconner2012]

Hipsters drinking drinks that taste like an ash tray. No thank you.

[@chloetwitchell9732]

stop

[@bboyjmode]

Smoking herbs huh? LOL

[@robertkrahn8614]

Now I saw it all the DUMIST thing I ever saw WOW

[@CrazyManwich]

Too much vermouth.

[@RobbieRobbie]

God I had to word this 5 different ways, Google didn't like the way I searched it. But I finally found one of these and need answers. I tried googling how gay do you have to be to use blow torches and wood to drink liquor? Couldn't find anything. With that being said, how gay do you have to be to burn wood and use torches to drink alcohol? 🤣 Holy hell this is gay.