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The Pasadena Star-News | Wed 10/15 08:59pm PST | Bestreviews
Smoking your cocktails will give you the wow factor that ensures every get-together will be memorable. Cocktail smoker kits can imbue your cocktails and meals with a burning wood smoke scent, adding flavor and complexity to crafted concoctions. These smoking tools are a simple accessory that will boost your bartending skills and impress your friends, family and potential dates. The Polyscience Breville Gun Pro Smoke Infuser is a commercial-grade smoker that can smoke fish, meat, vegetables and most importantly, your cocktails.
The key to mastering cocktail smoking is thoroughly understanding the process and the factors that contribute to making a smoky drink. You will want to know what accessories to look out for and which ones you will need to purchase if they are not included with the cocktail smoker kit you choose.
Scientifically, smoke molecules bind more easily to cold molecules and a cocktail smoker is best used on cold drinks. Do not try to smoke a cocktail, then warm it up; heating the cocktail will dissipate the smoked flavor, making the process a wasted effort. In short, a chilled cocktail will better hold the smoky essence.
Technically, the only tool you need to smoke a cocktail is the smoking gun itself. However, if you want to keep the process safe and your house smoke-free, you will want to invest in additional accessories.
The most popular cocktail smoking guns come with a dome to fit over the beverage being smoked. This contains the smoke and keeps it from wafting throughout your entire home. Some domes also come with a wooden board to protect your countertops.
If it doesn’t have a dome, a cocktail smoker kit may come in a box form. Cocktail smoking boxes typically have a stainless steel frame and clear paneling, providing a more dramatic experience for enjoying a smoked beverage.
Wood chips are the standard fuel of cocktail smokers, and their flavors will impact a meticulously crafted cocktail. There are many wood chip flavors on the market, but the most popular varieties are apple, cherry, hickory, mesquite and pecan.
A top-tier cocktail smoker kit will give you control over the smoke output and have a reliable power source. It will be made for convenience, with portability and easily cleaned parts.
The amount of smoke emitted by a cocktail smoker is typically controlled by a dial located on the side of the device. Smokers with fast and slow fan speeds are exemplary since a rapid speed is useful for igniting the wood chips, and a slow speed is ideal for the actual smoking process.
AA batteries are the common power source of standard cocktail smokers. If you want a smoker that will last longer before needing to be charged or have its batteries replaced, look for one with a USB connection cord and lithium-ion batteries. The USB connection cord allows for easy recharging so you don’t have to worry about keeping the battery full.
Many cocktail smokers are compact and lightweight for portability and easy storage. Look for a model with a removable chamber and replaceable filters that make cleaning the device an easy task. The detachable pieces of a smoker will sometimes be made dishwasher safe.
Most cocktail smoker kits are priced at $100 and up. Kits with additional accessories will cost more than stand-alone smoking tools.
A. Add all the ingredients of your drink into one glass and either shake or stir according to the recipe instructions. Once your drink is well mixed, you should begin smoking your cocktail. Top your drink with a garnish after you have finished using your smoker.
A. Most bartenders agree that you should smoke the cocktail for 1-4 minutes, depending on how smoky you want your drink to be.
Polyscience Breville Gun Pro Smoke Infuser
What you need to know: This smoking gun is sold either individually with wood chips or as a set with wood chips and a glass chamber.
What you’ll love: This cocktail smoker kit comes with a smoking gun, an extender hose, batteries, wood chips and extra smoke screens. The smoke output is customizable with a convenient dial and several pieces of the gun are dishwasher-safe.
What you should consider: This product is commercial-grade and pricier than other smoking gun options.
Smoke Boards Smoked Cocktail Kit
What you need to know: This is a seven-piece bartending kit that includes a carrying case, white oak smoke board, three flavors of wood chips, a handheld kitchen torch and a mason jar.
What you’ll love: The smoker set is portable and comes with apple, pecan and cherry chips for customizing a variety of drinks with different wood-smoked scents. The kit includes all the necessary accessories for smoking cocktails, making it an easy one-time purchase.
What you should consider: Butane, a flammable gas, cannot be shipped and is the only item omitted from this kit. The handheld kitchen torch will need to be filled with butane before use.
Breville BSM600SIL Smoking Gun Food Smoker
What you need to know: This smoker kit comes with a smoking gun, replacement screens, applewood and hickory wood chips, batteries, instructions and a list of recipes.
What you’ll love: The smoking gun itself features an integrated stand, adjustable smoke output and a removable hose and burn chamber for easy cleaning. The cold smoke system is portable and battery-operated.
What you should consider: It is difficult to clean parts of the gun aside from the removable hose and burn chamber.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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