You Can Now Make Cocktails with Smoked Ice—Here’s How
Updated: Jan. 03, 2024
Smoky cocktails are popular, but have you ever tried smoked ice? It's easy and adds zing to your drink.
Everyone seems to be smoking everything these days—from smoked brisket or mac-and-cheese to smoked holiday turkey or ham. Smoke is so trendy that it’s wafted its way over to the bar. The smoked old fashioned has become a cocktail menu staple, and tequila’s smoky cousin mezcal is soaring in popularity. But the easiest way to add a little smokiness to your drink is with smoke ice.
What is Smoked Ice?
Smoked ice is simply water that has been exposed to wood smoke, either in a grill or smoker, for a few hours. The smoked water is then frozen in molds to make ice cubes. It’s that simple. You can even play around with different shapes from fun ice cube trays. Once they’ve frozen, add the smoked ice cubes to spice up any classic drink, such as a bloody mary, whiskey sour, old fashioned, or a bourbon apple cider cocktail.
Is Smoked Ice the Same as Liquid Smoke?
No, smoked ice is not the same as liquid smoke. Liquid smoke is a somewhat controversial product, made from collecting water vapor from wood chips burned at high heat. After the vapor is captured and condensed, it’s filtered and bottled. The problem is that some manufacturers of liquid add chemicals, dyes, and artificial flavorings. While there are some delicious recipes that use liquid smoke, do not use it to make smoked ice for cocktails.
How to Make Smoked Ice
Tools and Ingredients
All you need is water, a heat-resistant bowl or pan, and a smoker or grill.
Directions
Step 1: Light Your Grill or Smoker and Choose Your Wood
If you have a smoker, just light and set it to around 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Wood chips that are sweeter and fruiter, such as applewood or cherry work best, but if you like that campfire taste, mesquite or hickory work, too.
If you have a grill, it’s easy to turn your grill into a smoker. Soak the wood chips in water, drain, and then add them to your charcoal grill after the coals die down. For a gas grill, wrap the wood chips in foil with poked holes for steam to escape and add the package to the cooking grate.
Remember: Water boils at 212 degrees! You don’t want to lose any water to evaporation, so keep an eye on the grill temperature.
Step 2: Add the Water and Let It Smoke
Fill a grill-safe bowl or pan with as much water as you need to fill your ice cube trays. Leave it on the grill or smoker for about 2 to 3 hours, until you’re happy with the flavor. As an alternative method, for bigger smoke flavor according to Thrillist, add actual ice cubes instead of water and let the ice melt as it smokes.
Note: Smoke the water alone. Do not add any raw meat or other foods to the grill while you’re smoking the water to avoid contamination.
Step 3: Strain the Water
After letting the water cool, and before you add it to the ice trays strain the water with a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove any particles that may have gotten in during the smoking process.
Step 4: Fill Ice Trays and Freeze
Distribute the smoked water into whatever ice trays or molds you desire. Perhaps balls for whiskey or old fashioneds, or other shapes for any clever idea that strikes you.
More Drink Ideas to Master
Moscow MuleOriginally developed in the 1940s, the Moscow Mule has made a big comeback is now one of the most popular mixed drinks. Could be it's refreshing taste or that pretty copper mug (or both!).
Directions: Combine 4 cups ginger beer, 2/3 cup lime juice and 1-1/4 cups vodka in a pitcher. Serve over ice. If desired, serve with lime slices. Yield: 6 servings.
Chocolate MartiniIs it a beverage or a dessert? Don't let its looks fool you: This chocolate martini is potent but good!
Directions: If desired, give your martini glass a chocolate rim and drizzle chocolate syrup in the glass. Then, fill a tumbler or mixing glass three-fourths full with ice. Add 2-1/2 ounces of half-and-half cream, 1-1/2 ounces of vodka, 1-1/2 ounces of chocolate liqueur and 1-1/2 ounces creme de cacao; stir until condensation forms on the outside of the tumbler. Strain into the martini glass.Yield: 1 serving.
Bloody MaryHorseradish makes this the best Bloody Mary recipe we've tasted. Without the horseradish, you'll have a more traditional Bloody Mary, and without the alcohol, you'll have a Virgin Mary. Serve with a stalk of celery, dill pickle spear or olives. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Horseradish makes this one of the best Bloody Mary recipes in the world.</p>
<p><strong>Directions:</strong> Garnish rim of tall glass with celery salt. Place remaining ice in prepared glass. Add 2 oz. vodka, 1 cup tomato juice, 1 tbsp. lemon juice, 1-1/2 tsp. lime juice, 3/4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 tsp. horseradish, 1/8 tsp. pepper, 1/8 tsp celery salt and 1/8 tsp. hot pepper sauce to shaker; cover and shake. Strain into prepared glass. Garnish as desired. <strong>Yield:</strong> 1 serving.[/rms_recipe]
MojitoTraditional mojitos are made with rum, which is both pleasant and mildly sweet.
Directions: Squeeze and drop a lime wedge into a highball glass. Then, add 2 teaspoons of sugar and muddle together. Gently press or slap 2 sprigs of mint and add to glass along with some ice. Pour 2 ounces of white rum and top with club soda. Garnish with a lime slice and additional mint, if desired. Yield: 1 serving.
Americano Cocktail Recipe
The cocktail contains the bittersweet taste of Campari paired with sweet vermouth and club soda. Directions: Pour 1-1/2 oz Campari and 1-1/2 oz sweet vermouth into an ice-filled glass. Then, pour in 3 oz. club soda, and stir well. Yield: 1 serving.
MartiniMartinis recipes can be made with either vodka or gin. Our taste panel's preference was for the gin, but try them both and decide for yourself. Be warned, this is a strong and serious drink. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Martinis can be made with either vodka or gin. Our taste panel's preference was for the gin, but try them both and decide for yourself. Be warned, this is a strong and serious drink.
Directions: Fill a shaker three-fourths full with ice. Add 3 oz. gin or vodka and 1/2 oz. dry vermouth; cover and shake until condensation forms on outside of shaker. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with olives. Yield: 1 serving.[/rms_recipe]
Gin and Tonic
This iconic drink is super easy to make. Directions: Pour 3 oz. gin, 4 oz. tonic water and 1 tablespoon lime juice over ice in a chilled glass. Stir well. Yield: 1 serving.
MicheladaTry this kicked-up beer cocktail that’s a zesty mix of Mexican lager, lime juice and hot sauce. There are many variations, but this easy recipe is perfect for rookie mixologists.
Directions: If desired, give your glass a salt rim. Then, fill a large glass with ice. In the glass, combine 6 dashes of hot sauce, 3 dashes of Maggi seasoning or soy sauce, 1-3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce, ¼-⅓ cup of lime juice and 1 bottle (12 ounces) of Corona, Modelo or Tecate. Garnish with lime wedges. Yield: 1 serving.
Mudslide
Creamy in texture and rich in taste, the mudslide is basically the equivalent of an adult milkshake. Directions: In a blender, combine 1 oz. Baileys Irish Cream, 1 oz. Kahlua, 1 oz. vodka, 1 oz. cream and ice. Blend until a smooth consistency is achieved. Pour into a chilled glass. Yield: 1 serving.
Zombie Cocktail
This tropical drink will be a sure crowd-pleaser at any beach themed parties or tiki bars. Directions: Combine 1-1/2 oz. golden rum, 1/2 oz. white rum, 1 oz. dark rum, 1 teaspoon papaya juice, 1 teaspoon pineapple juice, 1 teaspoon superfine sugar and 1 oz. lime juice over ice in a glass. Stir well. Pour 1/2 oz. 151-proof rum into the mixture, stirring it in. Yield: 1 serving.
Vesper
One thing is for sure: The Vesper is not for the faint of heart. The simple cocktail is created using three types of liquor, making the drink a very potent one. Directions: Stir 1 oz. vodka, 3 oz. gin and 1/2 oz. Lillet Blanc in a glass filled with ice. Strain, then pour into a chilled glass. Rub lemon peel along the rim of the glass, and drop it in. Yield: 1 serving.
Mai TaiThis party favorite has been around for quite some time. It's not overly fruity and features a good blend of sweet and sour. For a splash of color, garnish with strawberries and lime.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Greendale, Wisconsin
This party favorite has been around for quite some time. It's not overly fruity and features a good blend of sweet and sour.
Directions: Fill a shaker three-fourths full with ice. Place additional ice in a rocks glass; set aside. Add 2 oz. light rum, 3/4 oz. triple sec, 1/2 oz lemon juice, 1-1/2 teaspoons lime juice and 1-1/2 teaspoons amaretto to shaker; cover and shake for 10-15 seconds or until condensation forms on outside of shaker. Strain into prepared glass. Garnish as desired. Yield: 1 serving.[/rms_recipe]
Next, check out these 15 types of cocktail glasses that serious mixologists recommend.
