campfire old fashioned.
Smokey, sweet, and garnished with a toasted marshmallow, this is everything a summer campfire needs in one glass.
Makes: 1 cocktail Prep time: 5 minutes Build Time: 5 minutes
This recipe is a good example of doing just enough with a recipe so that it’s delicious and different but not difficult or weird (like a lot of my cocktail recipes turn out to be). To be honest, I way overthink cocktails and try to engineer something totally new every time. Truth is, if you’re making cocktails at home, it’s not super worthwhile to steep complicated simple syrups, extract vegetable juices or hunt down rare sodas. It’s fun, but why not leave that to the professionals for a fun splurge on a night out? How likely am I to actually use saffron simple syrup rather than pour a glass of wine?
Don’t get me wrong; I love making cocktails, and I love experimenting with them even more. This one still has the flair of a craft cocktail, but is very easy to make at home in almost no time at all. There’s just one fancy step and it’s surprisingly easy: smoking your cocktail!
There are two ways to smoke a cocktail without any smoking equipment: first, you could turn your glass upside down and smoke the glass, then pour the prepared cocktail into it, creating a mostly aromatic experience. In this method, your cocktail won’t absorb much of the smoked flavors, since you’re only smoking the glass. Still, you get a smokey, woodsy smell while drinking, which is exciting.
The other method just requires a sealable container like a mason jar. Start the same way by smoking the glass, then pour the prepared cocktail into the glass and seal it quickly, before any smoke escapes. Now, with this method, you’re smoking the actual cocktail. No cloche needed!
Otherwise, the special ingredients include chocolate bitters- easy to find on amazon- and a graham cracker rim. Oh, and a toasted marshmallow, if you’re fun.
It has smokey aromatics and a sweet, chocolatey tone. Perfect for sipping around the campfire, or really, any hot summer evening. Cheers!
campfire old fashioned ingredients
woodchips: We went to Home Depot and bought two of their smallest (which are very large-sized) wood pellet bags, located in the grilling section. You’ll notice that there are a lot of wood types to choose from: choose whichever sounds best to you! We use hickory for it’s woody, strong aroma, but we also have a bag of apple for when we want something a little brighter. You can also be super crafty and chop some pieces off of firewood or a tree in your backyard, but, it’s much easier to get a bag for smoking. Technically you only need one or two chips per cocktail, so those bags will last you a lifetime.
sugar cube: A hot topic in the old fashioned world: some prefer using simple syrup to eliminate the grain of the sugar cube. I way prefer the saturation of the sugar cube and don’t think the grain is a problem, especially since I stir quite a bit to dissolve. If you prefer simple syrup, just use a half ounce instead of the sugar cube.
aztec chocolate bitters: This is subtle, but sprinkles your old fashioned with a richer, more chocolatey flavor than the usual orange or angostura would do. I believe we bought our first bottle at a liquor store in Wisconsin, but these are easy to buy on Amazon.
vanilla extract: This is also just a dash (the bottle is impossible to dash with, though, so use a jigger or barspoon). It’s optional, but adds a velvety sweetness to the drink we really loved. It’s meant to mimic the taste of a marshmallow in a s’more.
bourbon whiskey: We use Benchmark for cocktails because we love how good and complex it is for a budget bourbon. It’s hard to bring yourself to use a fancy bourbon in a cocktail, so we always have a sturdy budget bourbon on hand for old fashioneds or sours. Benchmark is made by Buffalo Trace, which is also one of our favorite distillers. Use your favorite bourbon, or one on the sweeter side for a true dessert cocktail.
graham cracker crumbs: If you happen to have full graham crackers instead of crumbs, simply throw a few into a food processor and blend until fine. You can also add sugar for a sweeter rim.
marshmallow: I think this is a must! Carefully toast your marshmallow with a torch or on the stove while on your cocktail pick (if using a metal pick) then simply add as a garnish. Pretty much the best way to have toasted mallows, right?
campfire old fashioned pairing options
In case you need some ideas on what to eat alongside this, you know- other than s’mores!
dessert charcuterie, with salami, brie, and grapes
dark chocolate, especially with salted caramel
rich beef dishes, like steak, oxtails, or short ribs
dark chocolate covered oranges or strawberries
smoked ribs or brisket
sangiovenese or chianti, if you’re double fisting