At a glance
Pour water into a shallow pan and smoke it at 200°F to 225°F for about an hour. Gently heat the smoked water with an equal amount of sugar until it dissolves, add orange peel or cinnamon if you like, then cool and bottle it. It keeps in the fridge for up to a month and adds smoke to any cocktail.
Smoked simple syrup is the easiest way to add a smoky edge to cocktails. A spoonful turns an old fashioned into something you would expect from a craft cocktail bar, and it works just as well in whiskey sours, margaritas and iced coffee. It takes about an hour, mostly hands off, and you can make it while the smoker is running for something else.
Smoke the water or the sugar?
Smoking water in a wide, shallow pan is the simplest method. The large surface area absorbs plenty of smoke, and the syrup comes out clear and evenly flavored. You can also smoke the sugar spread thinly on a tray, which gives a slightly stronger flavor but can clump. Both work well.
Choosing the wood
- Hickory or oak: bold and classic, perfect for whiskey drinks.
- Cherry or apple: sweeter and fruitier, good for rum and tequila.
- Mesquite: strong and earthy, best used sparingly in mezcal or tequila drinks.
Recipe
Smoked Simple Syrup
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 1 hr 10 min
- Total
- 1 hr 15 min
- Makes
- About 1 1/2 cups (360 ml)
- Smoker 200°F (93°C) to 225°F (107°C)
- Smoke the water for 1 hour
- Keep in the fridge for up to 1 month
Ingredients
- 1 cup (240 ml) water
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar, or demerara sugar for a richer syrup
- 1 strip orange peel (optional)
- 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
Equipment
- Smoker
- Shallow metal pan or foil tray
- Small saucepan
- Clean glass bottle or jar
Method
- Pour the water into a shallow metal pan or foil tray to give it as much surface area as possible.
- Heat the smoker to 200°F to 225°F (93°C to 107°C) with hickory, cherry, apple or oak.
- Smoke the water for about 1 hour, stirring once. It will turn pale gold and smell smoky.
- Pour the smoked water into a saucepan with the sugar and the orange peel and cinnamon if using.
- Heat gently, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved completely. Do not boil.
- Cool, strain into a clean bottle or jar and refrigerate.
Notes
- Some water evaporates in the smoker. Top it back up to 1 cup before adding the sugar.
- Keep the syrup in the fridge and use it within 1 month. Discard it if it turns cloudy.
Cocktails to try
- Smoked old fashioned: 2 oz bourbon, 1/4 oz smoked syrup, 2 dashes bitters, orange peel.
- Smoked whiskey sour: 2 oz whiskey, 3/4 oz lemon juice, 1/2 oz smoked syrup.
- Smoked margarita: 2 oz tequila, 1 oz lime juice, 1/2 oz smoked syrup, with a slice of smoked pineapple.
Frequently asked questions
How long does smoked simple syrup keep?
Up to 1 month in a clean, sealed bottle in the fridge.
Can I make a rich simple syrup?
Yes. Use 2 parts sugar to 1 part smoked water for a thicker syrup that keeps a little longer.
Can I use it in non alcoholic drinks?
Yes. It is excellent in iced tea, lemonade and iced coffee.