Bold Cocktails for Smoke Lovers
Smoked cocktails have become a bar trend, with bartenders using smoking guns, torched wood planks, and cloches to add smoke to finished drinks. Our Smoked Straight Bourbon eliminates all of that theater because the smoke is already in the spirit. Real smokehouse character layered into a 90-proof straight bourbon means every cocktail you make carries authentic smoke from the first sip to the last.
Smoked Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned is already a perfect cocktail — so adding smoke might sound risky. But our Smoked Straight Bourbon was practically made for this format. The sugar and bitters temper the smoke just enough, the orange peel's citrus oils cut through the richness, and the large ice cube slowly opens up the flavors as it dilutes. The result is a drink that evolves in your glass over 20 minutes, revealing new layers with every sip.
For the full effect, flame the orange peel: hold it between your thumb and forefinger over the drink, skin side down, and hold a lit match beneath it. Squeeze firmly — the oils will ignite in a brief, dramatic flash that caramelizes the citrus and adds a toasted note that pairs beautifully with the bourbon's smoke.
For comparison, try our standard Bourbon Old Fashioned with Straight Bourbon and taste the difference the smoke makes.
Smoky Manhattan
The Manhattan's sweet vermouth and bitters provide a rich foundation that can handle the bourbon's smoke without being overwhelmed. Where a traditional Manhattan is silky and elegant, the Smoky Manhattan is brooding and complex — like sitting by a fire on a cold Kansas night with a glass of something serious.
Use a quality sweet vermouth like Carpano Antica Formula. Its vanilla and baking-spice notes amplify the bourbon's caramel character while the smoke adds a savory depth that cheaper vermouths cannot match. For a deeper exploration of the Manhattan format, see our Classic Manhattan recipe using Rye Whiskey.
Smoked Bourbon Sour
This is the cocktail that converts skeptics. People who think smoked spirits sound too intense are always surprised by how well the lemon juice and simple syrup balance the smoke. The citrus brightens everything, the sweetness rounds off the edges, and the smoke becomes a background note rather than the whole show — present and intriguing, but never overpowering.
Add a half ounce of egg white for a luxurious foam top. Dry shake first (without ice) for 10 seconds to emulsify the egg white, then add ice and shake again. The foam carries the bourbon's aroma beautifully and adds a silky texture that makes this feel like a craft bar creation.
When to Reach for Smoked Bourbon
Smoked Straight Bourbon is at its best in spirit-forward, stirred cocktails where the smoke has room to express itself. It is also outstanding in cold-weather drinks — try it in a Hot Toddy on a frigid evening for something truly memorable. As a general rule, if a cocktail calls for bourbon and you want more depth and complexity, swap in the Smoked Straight Bourbon.
Experience It in Person
The best way to appreciate what smoke adds to bourbon is a side-by-side tasting. Visit our distillery in Marquette, Kansas for a tasting and tour where we pour our Straight Bourbon and Smoked Straight Bourbon together so you can taste exactly how the smoking process transforms the spirit. Find our full lineup at retail locations across Kansas.