Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.
About meReal name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan - near Clare (dead center of lower peninsula).
Occupation:
Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
I have a cheapy like this, <$20 on Amazon, and I fear my lackluster experience with it may be my own doing. The lighter didn't come with any fuel and I didn't feel like going to the hardware store, so I used tongs and held the little bowl of chips over my stove burner to light it, and then put it on. Smelled the kitchen up, smelled nice. Didn't give my Old Fashioned any smoke flavor. I smoked the drink, then next time I smoked the glass first, and the shaker, and the finished drink, all 3, still no flavor in the drink. I haven't tried it with the torch as shown though, maybe that would kick up a few notches over how I did it, give it some more flavor.
I know this is slightly different, but maybe it will help you or someone else.
My wife got me a smoking gun and a "bell" (I think it is called) for father's day last year.
The advantage is that you can basically smoke anything including things like cheese, meats etc. It gives a subtle smoke flavour, definitely impacts an old fashioned, but it is not going to make it as smoky as if you add liquid smoke to the cocktail (there are some great recipes making a smoky syrup using Lapsang souchong tea).
The downside is obviously that it is a quite a big investment.
I love mine, give my cheese a touch of smoke for the cheese board, add some smoke flavour to drinks and other things. It has always been on my list of things to buy, but I could never really motivate the cost. Lucky I have an amazing wife. lol
Oh and if you are considering whether to get the bell thing, I'd recommend you do, makes it a lot more convenient that using cling film!
Son in law has that small smoker shown. It works, you can definitely taste the smoke in your drink. To me a novelty, I wouldn't want to do that all the time, but it was fun and different.
Both my father-in-law and brother-in-law have something like you have pictured. They're a pretty cool bar trick and has the affect of serving a drink with smoke rising from it, which is cool. But taste-wise, after the smoke clears the smoke flavor is largely gone. I make smoked ice that I add to whiskey drinks and bloody Marys (didn't like it on margaritas), and that has a much more noticable flavor. Plus, I've found that if i smoke the ice after smoking ribs, pulled pork, etc, the ice has a pretty strong porky, bacon flavor! Not the cool party trick that the smoking gun is, but still impressive, and had a much better flavor
I have one of the nicer ones. It was a gift. While it does work and add a smokey flavor to drinks and cheese and anything else you’d care to stick under the shell, it is also a pain to use. It’s probably best for parties where it would be used for multiple drinks etc. but getting it out for a single drink and chunk of cheese is a waste. I think we tossed it a while back.
Smokin-It 3D
Weber Kettle with an SNS
Masterbuilt kettle that I call the $30 wonder grill
Bullet by Bull Grills gasser
Anova WiFi sous vide machine
Thermoworks Thermapen and Chef Alarm
I have a SmokeTop - have enjoyed it over the last month or so since I got it. I find the large block cube takes on the smoke well compared to smaller ice. From reading, less is more when it comes to chips. The small holder for the chips, I just put a little in and take the torch to it and get a nice smoke. I let that sit for a bit and slowly slide the top off and the smoke hangs around until I move the glass. And for reference, my torch that I got with it. It’s easy to fill with fuel.
It’s fun, a cool thing for guests too! I think all in, I was $40 on Amazon, maybe a little more? I can’t remember.
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