The At Home Cocktail Smoker – Is It Worth It? 

Are you a smoked cocktail aficionado and you are tired of paying exorbitant prices for your favourite Mojito cocktail at the bar? Consider making yours at home. To get started, you need a cocktail smoker. 

But: Is the at-home cocktail smoker worth it, or would you rather spend your money at the local cocktail bar?

Simple answer: IT IS WORTH IT! Imagine being able to add layers of flavour to your favourite cocktail, at your own pleasure. The out-of-this-world experience is worth every dime you will pay for the cocktail smoker. 

A cocktail smoker kit is designed to create smoke from wood chips, herbs and spices. It infuses the smoke in drinks. This device adds smokey notes to all types of cocktails and alcoholic drinks.

Typically, the drink is placed under a glass dome to absorb the smoke. But for the simpler home kits, the wood chips are placed on a smoke lid, which is placed over the cocktail glass. When blasted with heat, the chips produce smoke, which infuses in the drink. More about that later!

Here are six benefits you will enjoy from  owning your own cocktail smoker kit:

1.Get a complete starter kit

Cocktail smokers come in kits and the one meant for home use is simple to use, and comes in a plug-n-play design. Besides, a comprehensive user manual is included to guide you along. 

This kit contains a blow torch, the base and the glass dome. The package will also include your starter wood chips, usually sourced from hickory, cherry, maple or oak trees. Thus, you can start using it straightaway. 

2. These kits are affordable

With as little as $30, you can add one to your home bar. There are very affordable brands and there are extravagantly priced ones. 

Even the cheap ones still come with all of the bells and whistles. However, most do not come with the glass dome. 

If you already have a blow torch that you use in your kitchen, you can order the cocktail smoker kit without one. 

3. You can use wood chips, herbs and spices of your choice

The kit that you buy will come with about four wood chips (different flavours). But you can get as creative as you like and try different types of spices and herbs that you have at home. 

Some of the common spices you can try smoking your cocktails with include thyme, sage, rosemary, oregano, basil, shiso, papalo, mint, and basil. Try combining one or more flavours to create a unique experience. 

If you are new to smoking alcohol and cocktails, join online forums to see what people from different parts of the world are using to create unique flavours. 

During the weekend, be experimental and create your own smoky cocktails recipes from scratch. You will be surprised what you can come up with when you set your mind on it. 

4. Home cocktail smokers are easy to use

Despite the razzmatazz that bartenders dazzle you with when you ask for a smoked cocktail, smoking a cocktail is not rocket science!

The commercial kits for bartenders have a more complicated design, but the home ones are simple and straightforward. Besides, they come with a comprehensive user manual, and you could catch a video or two on the internet to teach you how to make your first smoked cocktail. 

Just start simple, with one flavour and with time, you can try the more advanced techniques to make creative cocktails. You might also try techniques like smoking the cocktail glass when it is empty, as the bartenders are fond of doing. 

The process of infusing your cocktails with your favourite flavour is fairly simple. First, place the wood chips on the center filter, on the smoke lid. 

Secondly, place the smoke lid on the cocktail glass and then blast the wood chips with heat. Let the smoke infuse the drink for about two minutes and then lift it off. 

Thirdly, let the smoke escape and repeat the infusion process for another two minutes. In four minutes, you can have your drink ready. Take it soon after because the smoke dissipates fast. 

5. There is no risk of injury

Despite having to use a blow torch to light the wood chips, the entire process is fairly safe. But you have to follow the instructions in the user manual keenly. 

Clear the counter so that there is no risk of anything catching fire. When ordering your smoker kit, look for a blow torch that has a flame guard. It will keep the flame contained and lower the risk of spreading fire all over. 

For extra safety, remember to clean and sterilize the drinks equipment after every use, and before using it if it has been in storage for some time. Bacteria thrive in such environments and it is easy to ingest them with your cocktails. 

6. Smoke a wide variety of cocktails

Buying your own kit for smoking alcohol opens your creative floodgates. You can start simple, with the well-known cocktails. As you gain more experience, get bold and try smoking whiskey, tequila and other drinks. 

There are tens of smoky cocktail recipes you can try at home. Some of the most common ones include the Smokey Old-Fashioned, Rose Cocktail, Rum and Smoke, and the Smoked Manhattan. 

Final thoughts

With a little investment on a good at-home cocktail smoker, you can turn your cocktails from bland to exhilarating, with a fantastic smokey twist. 

This home kit will also bring out your creative genius. You can try twisting the flavour of your favourite drinks with different types of smokes. 

To get the best experience, choose a good smoker kit. It is better to pay more money for more features than less for fewer features. Besides, if you choose well, it will be many years before you have to go back to the market to look for another one. 

Please note that smoking alcoholic drinks does not make it safer than the non-smoked ones. It just gives you a more memorable and flavorful drinking experience. Drink responsibly all the time.