How do I use a cocktail smoker?

Using a cocktail smoker is simple. Depending on the tool you choose, most involve placing wood chips, herbs, or spices into the chamber, setting the cocktail or food within a glass dome, and delicately smoking to infuse just enough flavor. Remember to choose wood chips that won't negatively influence the balanced flavor of the cocktail. In other words, your goal should be to pick a wood that will complement your creation, giving it enough smoke to add another layer of flavor and aroma without accidentally making your cocktail taste like a barbeque pit.

Why add smoke to a cocktail?

It's the same as cooking —barbecuing meat on charcoal or smoking salmon adds another layer of depth to food. The scent of wood or the smell of smoke is added as flavor to certain cocktails, as aroma plays a huge role in how we taste. Adding smoke on top of a drink can accentuate bold or bitter flavors but can also easily overwhelm more delicate components of a drink. As with most cocktail innovations, less is more. Adding smoke to cocktails is fun and interactive, but not everyone loves the flavor. Make one drink, then let your tastebuds be your guide.

Which cocktails are good smoked?

Whiskey and smoke have always gone hand in hand, so any classic whiskey drink is a good candidate. Agave spirits will work as well, so a smoked tequila Old Fashioned is a crowd favorite too.

The 7 Best Cocktail Smokers of 2023

Few experiences are as satisfying as smoke billowing from an auburn-colored cocktail, with each sip filled with more smokey goodness than the last. Cocktail enthusiasts know there's no need to visit an upscale watering hole for a sight like this. You can easily recreate it at home — so long as you have the right cocktail smoker.

Smoke has the power to add texture and depth to any drink, especially those of the whiskey variety. When paying attention to the woodchip flavor and style used, you can easily heighten an existing flavor or add a unique note it would not have had otherwise. On the surface, it's also a great way to build anticipation or impress friends and family at your next dinner party. It helps that people have appreciated smoke in food and drink for thousands of years. But before smoking guns, adding smokey flavor to cocktails would only be feasible via a smokey spirit like mezcal or Islay scotch — so having the right cocktail smoker at home is a game changer now.

From smoking guns to all-inclusive sets, we made countless cocktails by testing 22 of the best cocktail smokers on the market to determine which ones are worth investing in. Read on for all of our favorite options.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Breville PolyScience The Smoking Gun Pro at Amazon

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Best Value:

The Crafty Cocktail The Cocktail Chimney® Kit at Thecraftycocktail.com

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Best for Rocks Cocktails:

Aged and Charred Smoke Top Lid Cocktail Smoker Kit at Agedandcharred.com

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Best Smoking Box:

Oklahoma Joe’s Cocktail Smoking Box at Amazon

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Best Versatile:

Breville Smoking Gun Food Smoker at Amazon

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Best Gift:

Crafthouse by Fortessa Cocktail Smoking Cloche at Amazon

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Best for Beginners:

MITBAK Smoking Gun with Dome Lid and Woodchips at Amazon

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Breville PolyScience The Smoking Gun Pro

Amazon

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Pros

A perfectly sized smoker that’s easy to operate with optimal smoke output, we think there’s no competition for this smoker.

Cons

It’s on the pricier side, but with high scores across the board from our tests, the Smoking Gun Pro is worth it.

Designed for professionals and commercial kitchens, this cocktail smoker is a beautiful marriage of ergonomic simplicity and high-performance durability. Something of a graduation from standard home-use smokers, The Smoking Gun Pro serves as an ultra-functional level-up. It’s ideal for serious home mixologists and first-time buyers seeking a reliable tool. Plus, it's super helpful in the kitchen!

Durable enough to last and easy to use (it even comes apart effortlessly for quick cleaning), the Smoking Gun Pro is also conveniently portable. The larger burn chamber allows the user to create perfectly smoked cocktails for more than one — or even a few friends. We found the smoke output to be incredible and the adjustable fan easy to use. The nozzle extender hose allows users to apply smoke to a glass, bottle, or any other application where you can imagine integrating smoke. This versatility is essential — especially when considering a smoker as a gift. The Smoking Gun Pro has a real leg up on the competition.

Price at time of publish: $150

Fuel source: Wood chips; it even comes with two vials of both hickory and applewood chips
Power: Battery

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Thecraftycocktail

View On Thecraftycocktail.com

Pros

This cocktail smoker doesn't require additional fuel — it burns the wood of the chimney itself.

Cons

You're limited to smoking cocktails with the included glass and chimney.

The Crafty Cocktail Smoking Chimney undoubtedly offers the most bang for your buck. The kit includes everything you need to correctly smoke a cocktail at home: a butane torch, a cocktail smoking chimney, and a 12-ounce glass. Simplistic in design, we found it produced a very smooth, enjoyable cocktail.

The Smoking Chimney is also the only cocktail smoker on the market that doesn't require additional fuel — this patent-pending technology burns the wood of the chimney itself to infuse into your cocktail. You can purchase Crafty Cocktails' cocktail-infusing powders to test out other wood flavors, too.

Price at time of publish: $75

Fuel source: Butane
Power: N/A

Agedandcharred

View On Agedandcharred.com

Pros

This is an all-inclusive gift set perfect for adding additional flavor and character to rocks cocktails.

Cons

It lacks some versatility; this is a one-drink-at-a-time affair.

This kit comes equipped with an oak cocktail smoker top tapered to fit various glasses, which keeps smoke from escaping, and is perfect if you’re focus is on smoking cocktails that utilize rocks glasses. Our test kitchen found that the Cocktail Smoker Kit created thick, aromatic smoke that took time to dissipate, which may or not be problematic for the operator. We were particularly happy with the design of the oak top, which channels the smoke directly into the glass.

When it comes to what’s included, Aged and Charred has thought of nearly everything. There’s a variety of wood chips and butane fuel to get you started, as well as additional smoke screens, a brush for cleaning, and a torch compact enough to take up minimal space. All of it comes together in a stylish gift box and requires very little setup. What more could we ask for?

Price at time of publish: $100

Fuel source: Wood chips
Power: Butane (which is included in the kit, making it essentially ready-to-use)

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Amazon

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Pros

Conveniently sized and efficient, this smoking box is just the thing for anyone looking to smoke cocktails without much effort.

Cons

Torch and wood chips are not included, which is somewhat inconvenient.

We love the minimalist, classic design of this white oak smoking box. Its size is perfect for a single cocktail, meaning it also takes up little room in a bar area. Made of white oak, the same as barrels, the small box has a latch and trays underneath to hold the chips. Assembly is simple, and the box that contains the smoke makes for an effortless clean-up.

This is a good value for anyone looking for a convenient and simple way to smoke cocktails. At around $60, we’re in love with the subtle flavor it imparts on drinks. On top of that, the box itself has such a reliable seal that, at first, we weren’t sure if it was smoking at all — that itself should be a testament to how well it works. To clean, simply remove the box from the tray, dump the ashes, and wipe clean with soap and water. One thing to keep in mind: This smoking box does not come with a butane torch or wood chips.

Price at time of publish: $60

Fuel source: Wood chips
Power: Manual

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Amazon

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Pros

A chameleon in the kitchen or bar cart, it’s easy to use with an intuitive setup.

Cons

We wish a smoking cloche were included at its price point.

Many chefs we spoke to named The Smoking Gun by Breville as one of their all-time favorite cocktail smokers, especially for home use. We’d have to agree (emphatically!), considering its versatility, how easy it is to use, and what a great deal it is. The Smoking Gun is ideal for home cooks and bartenders because of its lightweight, durable, and flexible-yet-sturdy hose.

It’s also one of the most multifaceted smokers we’ve tested. This smoker produces cold smoke, which is gentle on food, meaning there are many more uses for it than the typical smoker. The options are endless when you use it on empty glasses, finished drinks, and to infuse aromatics and fun things like smoking cheeses, meat, or even ice cream.

Price at time of publish: $100

Fuel source: Wood chips
Power: Battery

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Crafthouse by Fortessa Cocktail Smoking Cloche

Amazon

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Pros

Classy and fun, this makes a perfect gift for the cocktail lover in your life.

Cons

It’s a bit of a splurge, and it produces quite a large amount of smoke, so it would only be ideal for someone who prefers their foods and drinks heavily smoked.

We won’t deny that the Crafthouse By Fortessa Glass Smoking Cloche is a luxurious smoker, but this makes it all the better for gifting. With a classic design, ease of use, and pro-level functionality, infusing smokey depth into whatever you choose is simple and stylish. This makes it a great device to get creative with — we highly recommend working with herbs, spices, and wood chips.

Like Breville’s The Smoking Gun, it can smoke much more than your favorite cocktail. Equipped with a handheld smoker, smoking chips, a glass cloche, and a walnut wood base, you'll have everything you need to create a memorable presentation for family and friends. While we saw it produced heavier, thicker smoke, the smoke was well-contained in the cloche. To clean, simply dump out the coals and hand wash it with soap and water.

Price at time of publish: $250

Fuel source: Wood chips
Power: Battery

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MITBAK Portable Handheld Cold Smoking Gun with Dome Lid and Woodchips

Amazon

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Pros

Ideal for anyone dipping their toes into smoking cocktails due to its smaller size. It’s perfect for small cocktail glasses and even some foods, plus it’s easy to store.

Cons

It lacks the versatility other options have.

Our Best for Beginners pick, the MITBAK Cocktail Smoker, includes nearly everything you need to get started when smoking food and drink, including a glass dome, USB-powred smoker, and chips. It’s lightweight, dishwasher-safe, and simple to assemble, so your focus can be on creating a delicious flavor profile rather than on the smoker itself.

With an easy setup, we felt this was an excellent value for its functionality. Perfect for a curious home cook and nice enough to be a thoughtful gift, this smoker hits the mark. Do note that you will need to find your own base to place it on, like a cutting board or large plate, and with a short dome, a shorter cocktail glass will need to be used.

Price at time of publish: $90

Fuel source: Wood chips
Power: USB

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Our Favorite

Across the board, Breville cocktail smokers — including the traditional and pro versions — are a top choice among bartenders for restaurant and home use. We especially love the Breville Polyscience Pro Smoking Gun. Though they're not as showy as some of the other picks, Breville is the kind of workhorse gadget that'll get the job done time and time again.

Factors to Consider

Cocktail Preferences

Anytime sweetness, fat, spice, or salt are in the mix, there is likely an opportunity to incorporate smoke. All it takes is a bit of experimentation. However, traditionally speaking, Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and Bloody Marys are some of the most popular cocktails you may encounter smoked at your local bar.

Usage Frequency

There is no limit to adding smoke to cocktails. But as with anything, ask yourself why. How does it change the flavor and complexity of the cocktail? The best practice is to use your smoker only if it can add flavor and depth to your cocktail.

Depending on how often you use your smoker, remember that maintenance is key. Change out the filter on a regular basis to ensure you get the purest smoke possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use a cocktail smoker?

Using a cocktail smoker is simple. Depending on the tool you choose, most involve placing wood chips, herbs, or spices into the chamber, setting the cocktail or food within a glass dome, and delicately smoking to infuse just enough flavor.

Remember to choose wood chips that won't negatively influence the balanced flavor of the cocktail. In other words, your goal should be to pick a wood that will complement your creation, giving it enough smoke to add another layer of flavor and aroma without accidentally making your cocktail taste like a barbeque pit.
Why add smoke to a cocktail?

It's the same as cooking —barbecuing meat on charcoal or smoking salmon adds another layer of depth to food. The scent of wood or the smell of smoke is added as flavor to certain cocktails, as aroma plays a huge role in how we taste.

Adding smoke on top of a drink can accentuate bold or bitter flavors but can also easily overwhelm more delicate components of a drink. As with most cocktail innovations, less is more. Adding smoke to cocktails is fun and interactive, but not everyone loves the flavor. Make one drink, then let your tastebuds be your guide.
Which cocktails are good smoked?

Whiskey and smoke have always gone hand in hand, so any classic whiskey drink is a good candidate. Agave spirits will work as well, so a smoked tequila Old Fashioned is a crowd favorite too.

The Tests

We tested a total of 22 cocktail smokers to determine the best on the market. The tests included an initial setup using the instructions provided before smoking oak chips to infuse smoke flavor into an Old Fashioned cocktail. We tasted (and sniffed) our way through to note the most efficient tools and those we felt fell below the mark. From there, we rated each cocktail smoker for ease of setup, performance, ease of cleaning, versatility, and value to determine which smokers performed the best.

Other Cocktail Smokers We Tested

Strong Contenders

Homia Smoking Gun Universal Kit ($99 at Amazon)
VELEP Cocktail Smoker Box with Smoking Gun ($130 at Amazon)
TMKEFC Portable Smoking Gun ($34 at Amazon)
Aiernow Cocktail Smoker Kit ($26 at Amazon)

Results Still Simmering

Smoke Board’s Old Fashioned Cocktail Smoker Kit ($100 at Amazon)
SmokeShow Cocktail Smoker ($95 at SmokeShow Smoker)
Thousand Oaks Barrel Foghat Cocktail Smoking Cloche Set ($220 at Amazon)
Gramercy Kitchen Company Cocktail Smoker ($60 at Amazon)
CREATIVECHEF Portable Smoking Gun (SG16) ($30 at Amazon)
BORUIT Portable Smoking Gun Kit ($80 at Amazon)

Low Performers

Busy Bee PRO Cocktail Smoker ($80 at Amazon)
Thousand Oaks Barrel Foghat Cocktail Smoker ($65 at Thousand Oaks Barrel)
Middleton Mixology Smoketop Cocktail Smoker ($70 at Amazon)
Bespoke Post Smoked Cocktail Smoking Kit ($70 at Bespoke Post)

Our Expertise

Clarissa Buch Zilberman is an acclaimed food writer with nearly a decade of experience. She tapped more than a dozen bartenders and experts to get their input on the best cocktail smokers, including Nicholas Lappen, Michael Neff, Kursten Berry, Eamon Rockey, Shigefumi Kabashima, Amir Babayoff, Gary Wallach, Bobby DeMars, Ivan Papic, Maxwell Reis, David Porcaro II, and Marshall Minaya.

Christa Glennie also contributed to this piece. Glennie has been a freelance writer and food editor for nearly 20 years. She is also the author of two cookbooks and specializes in food and drink trends, agriculture, the regional foodways of Western New York, and the restaurant business.