By cold-smoking your cocktail glasses before adding the drink you can enhance any libation with an extra layer of smokiness and flavour. Smoked cocktail glasses can be prepared in advance, but if you add the liquid within five minutes of smoking the glasses, the drink will give off dramatic, aromatic wisps as you sip. Try them in this smoky, Golden barbecued margarita or come up with your own concoctions!
You will need:
Cold-smoking device (I used the ProQ Cold Smoke Generator)
Cold-smoking sawdust (I used maple)
Cocktail glasses, as needed
1
Set up the cold-smoker. Mine is a small metal unit that you sit on a baking tray and top with a raised cooling rack. You put the items to be smoked on top and place the whole lot inside a container to trap the cool smoke. I have had success with a variety of containers – from a small, lidded barbecue to a plain old cardboard box. I usually use what is to hand and don’t keep anything special for smoking. I tend to smoke things indoors, with the smoker by a window or open door. The smoker doesn’t generate much smoke, as it has to stay cool, but it will make the room smell a little smoky
2
Arrange the glasses upside down inside your smoking container. Smoke for about 15 minutes
3
During smoking, go back and check intermittently to make sure that the smoker is still alight
4
Remove each glass from the smoker, one at a time, and cover quickly with plastic wrap. Leave for at least 3 minutes for the smoke to settle a little
5
You can prepare in advance for ease of use, but if you use the glass after the 3 minute rest you can serve your cocktail smoking!
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